I 


LIBRARY 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 
SANTA  BARBARA 

PRESENTED   BY 
MRS.    JOEL  WOHLIN 


THE    WARBLERS 

OF 

NORTH    AMERICA 


By  FRANK  M.  CHAPMAN, 

Curator   of   Ornithology    in  the    American   Museum   of 
Natural  History. 


HANDBOOK    OF     BIRDS    OF    EASTERN     NORTH 
AMERICA.      Revised  Edit  o«. 
With  Keys  to  the  Species,  Descriptions  of 
their  Plumages,  Nests,  etc.,  and  their  Dis- 
tribution and  Migrations.    With  over  200 
Illustrations,     izmo. 
LIBRARY  EDITION,  13.50. 
POCKET  EDITION,  flexible  covers,  $4.00. 

BIRD-LIFE.     A  Guide  to  the  SlDdy  of  Our  Common  Birds. 

POPULAR  EDITION  in  colors,  $2.00  net ; 
postage.  1 8  cents  additional. 

BIRD  STUDIES  WITH  A  CAMERA.    wHh  l.trod.ctor, 

Chapters  on  the  Outfit  and  Methods  of  the  Bird  Photographer. 

Illustrated  with  over  100  Photographs  from 
Nature  by  the  Author.  i2mo.  Cloth,fi.75. 

COLOR  KEY  TO  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 

With  800  Drawings  by  C.  A.  Reed.  8vo. 
Cloth,  $2.50  net ;  postage,  20  cents  ad- 
ditional. 

CAMPS  AND  CRUISES  OF  AN  ORNITHOLOGIST. 

With  250  Photographs  from  Nature  by  the 
Author.  Cloth,  $3.00. 

THE  WARBLERS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

With  Contributions  from  other  Ornitholo- 
gists and  24  full-page  Colored  Plates  illus- 
trating every  species,  from  Drawings  by  L. 
A.  Fuertes  and  B  Horsfall,  and  Half-tones 
of  Nests  and  Eggs.  8vp.  Cloth,  $3.00  net  ; 
postage,  20  cents  additional. 


D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY.  NEW  YORK. 


PLATE  I 


1.  YHLLOW   VVAKBLER.  MALE. 

2.  YELLOW  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

3.  MANGROVE  WARBLER.  MALE. 


4.  MANCHOVE  WARBLER,  FEMAI 

5.  PRAIRIE  WARBLER,  MALE. 

6.  PRAIRIE  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


THE     ¥ARBLER$f 


NORTH    AMERICA/ 


BY 


FRANK'  M.  CHAPMAN 
ff 

WITH  THE  COOPERATION  OF  OTHER  ORNITHOLOGISTS 


WITH      TWENTY-FOUR      FULL-PAGE     COLORED      PLATES,     ILLUSTRATING 

EVERT  SPECIES,   FROM  DRAWINGS  BY  LOUIS  AGASSIZ   FUERTES 

AND  BRUCE  HORSFALL,  AND  HALF-TONES 

OF   NESTS  AND  EGGS 


SECOND   EDITION 


NEW  YORK 

D.  APPLETON  &  COMPANY 
1914 


•**,  < 


Copyright,  1907, 

By  FRANK  M.  CHAPMAN 

y4//  rights  reserved 


Published,  March,  1907 
Reprinted,  January ',  1914. 


PREFACE 


THE  WARBLERS  have  been  described  as  "our  most  beautiful, 
most  abundant,  and  least  known  birds."    The  knowledge  that 
at  certain  seasons  our  "woods,  and  even  the  trees  of  our  larger 
city  parks  are  thronged  with  an  innumerable  host  of  birds,  the  bril- 
liancy of  whose  plumage  rivals  that  of  many  tropical  species,  comes  to 
the  bird  student  with  the  force  of  a  surprising  discovery.     One  never 
forgets  one's  first  Warbler ! 

Highly  migratory,  the  extended  journeys  of  Warblers  are  never- 
theless performed  with  a  regularity  which  makes  their  appearance  in 
the  spring  a  fixed  calendar  event.  The  very  essence  of  the  season 
is  in  their  flitting  forms  and  lisping  voices;  without  them  May  would 
seem  a  dreary  month  and  the  migration  of  birds  lose  half  its  charm. 

But  these  dainty,  fascinating  sprites  of  the  tree-tops  are  elusive. 
Years  of  observation  may  be  required  to  add  to  one's  list  of  field 
acquaintances  the  last  of  the  thirty-odd  species  which,  in  eastern 
North  America,  may  be  found  at  a  single  locality. 

In  this  quest  the  field-glass  student  is  handicapped.  The  small 
size  of  Warblers,  their  activity,  the  nature  of  their  haunts,  their  rapid 
journeys,  marked  seasonal  changes  in  plumage,  and  the  general  resem- 
blance in  the  song  of  many  species  all  tend  to  render  recognition  in  life 
unusually  difficult.  This  book  has,  therefore,  been  prepared  with  the 
cooperation  of  other  ornithologists,  to  meet  the  demand  for  a  fully 
illustrated  work  which  will  serve  as  an  aid  to  the  field  identification  of 
Warblers  and  to  the  study  of  their  life-histories. 

F.  M.  C. 

American  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
New  York  City,  January,  1907. 


Best  gems  of  Nature's  cabinet 
With  dewi  of  tropic  morning  wet. 
— Longfellow 


CONTENTS 


Page 

INTRODUCTORY             i 

PLAN  OF  THE  WORK I 

LIST  OF  CONTRIBUTORS 5 

THE  WOOD  WARBLERS 7 

GENERAL  CHARACTERS  OF  WARBLERS 7 

PLUMAGE  OF  WARBLERS 7 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  WARBLERS n 

MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS,  W.  W.  Cooke 14 

SONGS  OF  WARBLERS 20 

NESTING   HABITS  OF  WARBLERS 22 

FOOD  OF  WARBLERS,  Edward  Howe  Forbush 23 

MORTALITY  AMONG  WARBLERS 33 

THE  WARBLERS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA 37 

Genus    i.    MNIOTILTA 38 

1.  Mniotilta  varia,  Black  and  White  Warbler 38 

Genus    2.    HELINAIA            43 

2.  Helinaia  swainsoni,  Swainson's  Warbler 44 

Genus    3.    HELMITHEROS            48 

3.  Helmitheros   vermivorus,   Worm-eating   Warbler.      .        .  48 
Genus    4.    PROTONOTARIA            53 

4.  Protonotaria  citrea,  Prothonotary  Warbler.         ...  54 
Genus    5.    VERMIVORA                 59 

5.  Vermivora  chrysoptera,  Golden-winged   Warbler.              .  60 

6.  pinus,  Blue-winged   Warbler 65 

7.  bachmani,   Bachman's   Warbler.        ...  77 

8.  peregrina,    Tennessee    Warbler.        ...  83 

9.  celata    celata,   Orange-crowned   Warbler.        .  86 
9a.                           "      orestera,  Rocky  Mountain  Orange-crown.  89 
9b.                          "      lutescens,  Lutescent  Warbler.  go 
9C.                                    sordida,    Dusky    Warbler.        ...  91 

10.                         rubricapilla  rubricapilla,  Nashville  Warbler.     .  92 

ioa.                                             gutturalis,   Calaveras   Warbler.     .  97 

ii-                         Virginia,   Virginia's   Warbler 98 

12.                          lucice,  Lucy's  Warbler 100 


Page 

Genus    6.    COMPSOTHLYPIS 102 

13.  Compsothlypis    americana    americana,    Southern     Parula 

Warbler 103 

I3a.  "  usnete,        Northern        Parula 

Warbler 104 

14.  pitiayumi  nigrilora,  Sennett's  Warbler.     .  109 
Genus    7.    PEUCEDRAMUS no 

15.  Peucedramus  olivaccus,  Olive  Warbler no 

Genus    8.    DENDBOICA 

16.  Dendroica  estiva  astiva,  Yellow  Warbler 113 

i6a.           "                      sonorana,    Sonora   Yellow    Warbler.      .  119 

i6b.          "             "       rubiginosa,  Alaskan  Yellow  Warbler.    .  120 

160.          "                "       brewsteri,  California  Yellow  Warbler.  .  120 

17.  bryanti  castaneiceps,  Mangrove  Warbler.    .        .  121 

18.  "          magnolia,  Magnolia  Warbler 121 

19.  tigrina,  Cape   May  Warbler 128 

20.  cterulesccns    caerulesccns,    Black-throated    Blue 

Warbler 133 

2oa.           "                               cairnsi,  Cairns'  Warbler.          .        .  140 

21.  coronata,  Myrtle  Warbler.    ......  141 

22.  "         auduboni  auduboni,  Audubon's  Warbler.  .        .  147 
223.                                       nigrifrons,  Black-fronted  Warbler.    .  151 

23.  "          nigrescent,  Black-throated  Gray  Warbler.  .        .  151 

24.  "          townsendi,  Townsend's  Warbler.       ..        .        .154 

25.  virenst  Black-throated  Green  Warbler.      .        .  157 

26.  "          chrysoparia,  Golden-cheeked   Warbler.       .        .  162 

27.  occidentalis,    Hermit    Warbler 167 

28.  "          cerulea,    Cerulean    Warbler 170 

29.  fusca,    Blackburnian    Warbler 175 

30.  "          dominica  dominica,  Yellow-throated  Warbler.  .  180 
3osu          "                 "         albilora,  Sycamore  Warbler.       .        .  184 

31.  "          gratia  gratia,  Grace's  Warbler 185 

32.  pensylvanica,    Chestnut-sided    Warbler.     .        .  187 

33.  castanea,    Bay-breasted    Warbler.        .        .        .  192 

34.  "          striata,  Blackpoll   Warbler 196 

35.  vigorsi  vigorsi,  Pine  Warbler 201 

36.  "          kirtlandi,  Kirtland's  Warbler 206 

37.  "          discolor,  Prairie  Warbler 209 

38.  "          palmarum  palmorum,  Palm  Warbler.  .        .        .213 
383.           "                 "          hypochrysea,  Yellow  Palm  Warbler.  216 

Genus    9.    SEIURUS 218 

39.  Seiurus  aurocapillus,  Oven-bird 219 

40.  "        motatilla,  Louisiana  Water-Thrush.       ...  226 

41.  noveboracensis  noveboracensis,  Northern   Water- 

Thrush 230 

413.        "                    "             notabilis,  Grinnell's  Water-Thrush.  234 

Genus  10.    OPORORNIS 235 

42.  Oporornis  formosus,  Kentucky  Warbler 235 

43.  "          agilis,   Connecticut    Warbler 241 


Page 

44.  Oporornis    Philadelphia,    Mourning    Warbler.             .        .  244 

45.  "           tolmiei,  Macgillivray's  Warbler.           .        .        .  249 
Genus  n.    GEOTHLYPIS 251 

46.  Geothlypis  trichas  trichas,    Maryland    Yellow-throat.        .  251 
46a.                           "        ignota,    Florida    Yellow-throat.     .        .  257 
46b.                           "        occidentalis,     Western     Yellow-throat.  259 
460.                                    arizela,   Pacific   Yellow-throat.      .        .  260 
46d.                           "        sinuosa,  Salt   Marsh  Yellow-throat.     .  261 

47.  beldingi,    Belding's    Yellow-throat.      .        .        .  261 
Genus  12.    CHAM^THLYPIS 263 

48.  Chamcethlypis    poliocephala     poliocephala,      Rio      Grande 

Yellow-throat.  .263 

Genus  13.    ICTERIA 263 

49.  Icteria  virens  virens,  Yellow-breasted  Chat.         .        .        .  264 
49a.       "           "       longicauda,  Long-tailed  Chat.         .        .        .  268 

Genus  14.    WILSONIA            269 

50.  Wilsonia  citrina,  Hooded  Warbler 269 

51.  "         pusilla  pusilla,  Wilson's  Warbler.         .        .        .  274 
5 1 a.          "              "          pileolata,  Pileolated  Warbler.         .        .  278 
Sib.          "             "         chryseola,  Golden  Pileolated  Warbler.    .  279 

52.  "          canadensis,    Canada    Warbler 274 

Genus  15    CARDELLINA 285 

53.  Cardellina  rubrifrons,  Red-faced  Warbler 285 

Genus  16.    SETOPHAGA 287 

54.  Setophaga  ruticilla,  American  Redstart 287 

55-             "          picta  picta,  Painted  Redstart 295 

HYPOTHETICAL  LIST .        .  299 

INDEX. 301 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


COLORED  PLATES 

PLATE.  FACING 

I.     YELLOW,  MANGROVE,  AND  PRAIRIE  WARBLERS.    Horsfall.  .        Frontispiece 

II.    BLACKPOLL  AND  BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLERS.     Horsfall.  .        .  38 

III.  BLACKBURNIAN  AND  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLERS.     Horsfall.   .        .  50 

IV.  BACH  MAN'S,  SWAINSON'S,  AND  WORM -EATING  WARBLERS.   Fucrtes.  64 
V.    BLUE-WINGED,    LAWRENCE'S,     BREWSTER'S,     AND    GOLDEN-WINGED 

WARBLERS.    Fuertes 72 

OLIVE,  LUCY'S,  AND  VIRGINIA'S  WARBLERS.    Fuertes.  ...        .  98 
TENNESSEE,  ORANGE-CROWNED,  AND  NASHVILLE  WARBLERS.    Hors- 
fall   85 

VIII.     PARULA  AND  SENNETT'S  WARBLERS.     Fuertes 104 

IX.  CERULEAN  AND  BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLERS.    Fuertes.  .        .  1 12 

X.  MYRTLE  AND  AUDUBON'S  WARBLERS.    Fuertes 118 

XI.  MAGNOLIA  AND  KIRTLAND'S  WARBLERS.     Horsfall 126 

XII.    BAY-BREASTED  AND  CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLERS.     Horsfall.  .        .  138 

XIII.  YELLOW-THROATED,  GRACE'S,  AND  BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLERS. 

Fuertes 152 

XIV.  BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  AND  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLERS.   Horsfall.  162 
XV.    HERMIT  AND  TOWNSEND'S  WARBLERS.    Fuertes 170 

XVI.    CAPE  MAY  AND  PALM  WARBLERS.    Fuertes 214 

XVII.    Rio    GRANDE    YELLOW-THROAT,    OVEN-BIRD,    NORTHERN     WATER- 
THRUSH,  LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH.    Fuertes 226 

XVIII.    KENTUCKY  AND  CONNECTICUT  WARBLERS.     Horsfall.      .        .        .  236 

XIX.    MACGILLIVRAY'S  AND  MOURNING  WARBLERS.    Horsfall.  .        .        .  244 

XX.     BELDING'S  AND  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROATS.    Fuertes.  .        .        .  252 

XXI.  HOODED  WARBLER,  YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT.     Horsfall.  .        .        .  264 

XXII.  WILSON'S  AND    CANADA    WARBLERS.    Fuertes 280 

XXIII.  AMERICAN  AND  PAINTED  REDSTARTS.     Horsfall 288 

XXIV.  PINE  AND  RED-FACED  WARBLERS.    Horsfall 296 


PHOTOGRAPHS  OF  NESTS  AND  EGGS 

FIGURES.                                                                                                     FACING  PAGE. 

1.  NEST  OF  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER. 58 

2.  NEST  OF  PARULA  WARBLER 58 

3-32.    EGGS  OF  WARBLERS 44 

33.  NEST  OF  YELLOW  WARBLER 188 

34.  NEST  OF   CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER 188 

35-64.    EGGS  OF  WARBLERS 144 

65-94.     EGGS  OF  WARBLERS 176 

95.  NEST  OF  BLACKPOLL  WARBLER ....  200 

96.  NEST  OF   OVEN-BIRD. 200 

97-126.    EGGS  OF  WARBLERS 258 

127.  NEST  OF  REDSTART 272 

128.  NEST  OF  HOODED  WARBLER 272 

ix 


INTRODUCTORY 

PLAN  OF  THE  WORK 

The  plan  on  which  this  work  was  projected  was  outlined  in 
'Bird-Lore'  for  April,  1903  (pp.  61-63).  Responding  to  frequent 
and  continued  requests  for  a  book  treating  especially  of  Warblers, 
the  writer,  as  editor  of  that  magazine,  asked  ornithologists  to  assist 
in  the  preparation  of  the  proposed  volume  by  contributing  the  results 
of  their  observations  of  the  habits  of  Warblers,  and  added: 

"Continued  study  of  our  birds  emphasizes  the  absolute  necessity 
of  many  observers  if  we  are  to  have  anything  approaching  adequate 
biographies  of  even  a  single  species.  Habits  should  be  affirmed  or 
denied  only  on  the  basis  of  abundant  data;  again,  what  proves  true 
of  a  species  in  one  part  of  its  range  may  be  incorrect  in  another; 
and  we  need,  therefore,  not  only  many  observations  from  one  place, 
but  from  many  places  throughout  a  bird's  range  before  we  can  write 
its  life-history  with  an  approach  to  thoroughness.  Cooperation,  there- 
fore, is  the  watchword  of  the  bird  study  of  to-day. 

"The  truth  is,  the  best  of  bird  biographies  tell  only  the  story  of  the 
individual  rather  than  the  species.  Life  is  too  short  for  a  single 
student  to  acquire  a  thorough  knowledge  of  more  than  a  few  species 
of  birds,  and  even  then  his  experience  is  apt  to  be  limited  to  a  small 
part  of  their  range.  In  the  writer's  opinion,  the  bird  biographies  in 
Bendire's  'Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds'  are  among  the 
best,  if  not  the  best  of  any  which  have  been  written.  This  is  not 
solely  because  of  Major  Bendire's  wide  field  experience  and  powers 
of  observation,  but  also  because  he  secured  the  cooperation  of  orni- 
thologists throughout  the  country.  It  was  not  required  that  they 
should  be  skilled  in  painting  pen  pictures  of  bird-life ;  facts,  not  rhe- 
torical flights,  were  wanted,  and  the  result  is  one  of  the  most  satis- 
factory books  of  reference  of  its  kind. 

"There  is  an  object-lesson  for  us  here.  In  our  enthusiastic  appre- 
ciation of  the  bird  as  a  creature  of  rare  grace  and  beauty,  the  final 
touch  giving  life  to  woods  and  fields,  let  us  not  forget  that  as  bird 
students  we  are  here  more  intimately  concerned  with  the  birds'  habits 


2  PLAN  OF  THE  WORK 

than  with  the  part  they  play  as  the  'jewels  of  creation,'  when,  with 
no  loss  of  appreciation  of  the  esthetic  side  of  bird-life,  we  may  make 
our  bird  biographies  a  storehouse  of  exact  and  detailed  observations 
in  regard  to  a  bird's  distribution,  migrations,  its  manner  of  courting, 
singing,  nest-building,  incubating,  caring  for  its  young,  the  relation 
between  its  structure  and  habit,  etc." 

The  concluding  lines  were  then  expanded  into  an  outline  bio- 
graphy representing  the  manner  in  which  it  was  desired  to  treat  each 
species;  and  it  may  at  once  be  confessed  that  in  only  a  small  number 
of  instances  have  contributions  been  received  which  would  permit 
of  the  treatment  proposed.  Of  observations  on  migration,  numerical, 
abundance,  local  distribution,  and  nesting  dates,  there  have  been  no 
lack;  valuable  descriptions  of  haunts,  actions,  and,  particularly,  of 
song  have  been  sent,  but  the  minute,  intimate  study  revealing  the 
bird's  inner  life  and  relation  to  its  surroundings  has,  in  most 
instances,  yet  to  be  made.  Such  studies  result  only  from  definitely 
directed  and  prolonged  observation,  and,  in  the  development  of  orni- 
thological science  in  America,  we  are  only  just  beginning  to  receive 
contributions  from  naturalists  who,  not  content  with  the  mere  ability 
to  name  the  birds  of  their  own  locality  and  describe  their  habits  in 
a  general  way,  have  chosen  some  particular  subject  or  species  for 
thorough  investigation.  However,  it  is  believed  that  the  present 
volume  adequately  reflects  existing  knowledge  of  the  North  American 
Mniotiltidae  and  it  is  hoped,  therefore,  may  prove  a  stable  foundation 
on  which  to  build  a  more  complete  structure. 

At  the  outset  the  author  disclaims  any  special  knowledge  of  the 
members  of  the  family  of  which  this  book  treats.  Circumstances, 
some  of  which  have  been  before  mentioned,  have  induced  him  to 
undertake  its  preparation ;  and  only  the  generous  cooperation  of  other 
workers  has  enabled  him  to  complete  the  task. 

A  special  effort  has  been  made  to  acknowledge  fully  all  sources 
of  assistance.  Manuscript  contributions  have  been  marked  as  such, 
while  information  which  has  been  previously  published  is,  when  prac 
ticable,  given  in  the  words  of  its  author.  In  this  connection  intro 
ductory  and  transition  remarks  and  other  editorial  ear-marks,  which 
become  tiresome  through  frequent  repetition  and  tend  to  rob  the 
matter  quoted  of  its  own  distinctive  character  through  the  needless 
interposition  of  another  personality,  have  been  avoided  as  much  as 
possible.  While  the  result  may  be  a  less  finished,  it  is,  to  our  mind,  a 
more  effective  whole. 


PLAN  OF  THE  WORK  3 

It  should  be  added  that  in  the  selection  of  material,  other  things 
being  equal,  preference  has  been  given  to  articles  which  have  appeared 
in  magazines,  and  in  the  publications  of  scientific  societies  which  are 
comparatively  inaccessible ;  while  those  books  which  can  be  more 
readily  purchased  have  been  used  only  when  other  sources  of  infor- 
mation have  failed. 

A  list  of  the  contributors,  or  co-authors  of  this  volume  is 
given  on  a  succeeding  page,  but  it  is  desired  here  to  specify  the 
nature  of  the  material  they  have  contributed,  as  well  as  to  comment 
in  a  more  or  less  explanatory  way,  on  the  book's  contents. 

Preliminary  Chapters. — The  subjective  matter  herein  contained 
was  prepared  by  the  writer  with  the  exception  of  the  article  on 
'Migration/  which  is  by  W.  W.  Cooke,  and  that  on  The  Food  of 
Warblers,'  which  was  written  by  E.  H.  Forbush. 

Descriptions  of  Plumages,  etc. — The  description  of  plumages, 
with  remarks  on  genera  and  comments  on  species  are  by  the  writer. 
They  are  based  on  the  collection  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History  and  the  admirable  series  of  carefully  sexed  Warblers  in  the 
collection  of  Dr.  J.  Dwight,  Jr.,  which  is  deposited  in  the  museum, 
but  thanks  are  also  due  Robert  Ridgway,  Curator  of  Birds  of  the 
United  States  National  Museum,  and  Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam,  Chief 
of  the  Biological  Survey,  for  permission  to  examine  the  birds  under 
their  charge,  as  well  as  to  William  Brewster  and  Dr.  L.  B.  Bishop 
for  an  opportunity  to  study  the  Warblers  contained  in  their  private 
collections.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  acknowledge  here,  also,  the  assistance 
derived  from  the  second  volume  of  Ridgway's  'Birds  of  North  and 
Middle  America'  which  includes  the  Warblers,  and  Dwight's  'The 
Sequence  of  Plumages  and  Moults  of  the  Passerine  Birds  of  New  York.' 

The  measurement  of  'Length'  here  given  is  taken  from  study 
'skins',  first,  because  a  large  series  of  measurements  taken  in  the  flesh, 
of  all  the  species  treated,  is  not  available;  and,  second,  because  it  is 
believed  that  the  measurement  of  the  length  of  a  properly  prepared 
skin  gives  a  more  nearly  correct  idea  of  the  size  of  the  living  bird, 
than  does  the  measurement  of  the  recently  killed,  usually  relaxed, 
and  more  or  less  stretched  specimen. 

Range. — The  paragraphs  on  distribution  are,  in  the  main,  by 
W.  W.  Cooke  with  additions  by  the  author  who  is  responsible  for 
the  range  given  of  the  various  subspecies  of  Warblers. 

Migration. — The  migration  tables,  assuredly  one  of  the  most 
valuable  features  of  the  book,  have  been  prepared  entirely  by  W.  W. 


4  PLAN  OF  THE  WORK 

Cooke  of  the  Biological  Survey.  For  the  past  twenty  years  orni- 
thologists throughout  the  country  have  been  sending  data  on  bird 
migration  to  the  Survey.  In  the  preparation  of  Bulletin  No.  18  of  the 
Survey  ('Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Warblers'), 
it  was  Professor  Cooke's  duty  to  elaborate  this  unequalled  store  of 
migration  records,  and  the  matter  here  given  is  based  on  that  work, 
the  migration  records  being  presented  in  a  tabular  form  which  makes 
them  easy  of  reference  and  comparison. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Under  this  heading  an  attempt  has 
been  made  to  present  a  picture  of  the  bird  in  nature;  sketching  its 
appearance  and  actions  as  well  as  describing  its  haunts,  both  while 
migrating  and  nesting.  Here  are  also  occasionally  included  remarks 
on  the  time,  place,  or  manner  of  the  discovery  of  the  bird  or  its  nest 
and  eggs,  with  other  pertinent  historical  details,  and,  in  some 
instances,  biographical  data  which  seem  more  in  place  here  than  in 
any  other  section  of  the  outline  for  treatment  adopted. 

Especially  valuable  contributions  to  this  department  were  made 
by  Gerald  Thayer,  Frank  L.  Burns,  Verdi  Burtch,  Walter  K.  Fisher, 
and  Andrew  Allison. 

Song. — Under  this  caption  the  call-notes  as  well  as  the  songs  of 
Warblers  are  treated.  Always  a  difficult  and  unsatisfactory  subject 
to  deal  with,  it  is  particularly  so  in  the  case  of  the  Warblers,  the 
calls  and  songs  of  most  of  which  lack  sufficient  character  to  be  des- 
cribed recognizably.  However,  the  impressions  of  different  observers 
in  widely  separated  localities  are  presented,  not  with  the  expectation 
that  what  they  have  written  will  give  one  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
particular  song  in  question,  but  that  it  will  lead  to  its  identification 
when  heard. 

Miss  Paddock,  Mrs.  Farwell,  Gerald  Thayer,  and  Andrew  Allison 
have  made  notable  contributions  to  this  part  of  the  book,  and 
Lynds  Jones  has  permitted  liberal  use  of  his  'Songs  of  Warblers'. 
The  student  should  also  consult  Matthews'  'Fieldbook  of  Wild  Birds 
and  their  Music'  (Putnams)  which  being  readily  procurable  has  not 
been  quoted  from. 

Nesting-Site  and  Nest. — The  method  of  treatment  of  these 
sections  requires  but  little  comment.  The  abundant  literature  of  the 
subject  has  been  freely  drawn  on,  reference  showing  the  source  of 
information.  The  collections  of  the  American  Museum,  William 
Brewster,  and  C.  W.  Crandall  have  been  used,  while  particularly 
acceptable  manuscript  contributions  were  made  by  Andrew  Allison, 
Frank  L.  Burns,  and  Verdi  Burtch. 


PLAN  OF  THE  WORK  5 

Eggs. — The  descriptions  and  measurements  of  the  eggs  were  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  C.  W.  Crandall,  well  known  as  a  careful,  conservative 
oologist.  Mr.  Crandall  possesses  one  of  the  largest  private  collections 
of  eggs  in  the  country,  and  his  work  is  therefore  based  on  abundance 
of  material.  The  eggs  figured  are,  in  the  main,  from  Mr.  Crandall's 
collection  with  additions  from  the  collections  of  the  American  Mus- 
eum of  Natural  History  and  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Childs. 

Nesting  Dates. — Unless  otherwise  specified  the  dates  here  given 
are  the  earliest  and  latest  at  which  full  sets  of  fresh  eggs  were  found. 
Most  of  the  data  here  presented  were  contributed  by  the  ornithologists 
whose  names  are  given  as  authority,  but  the  collections  of  the  Ameri- 
can Museum  and  of  Mr.  C.  W.  Crandall  as  well  as  the  literature  of 
the  subject  have  also  been  drawn  on. 

Biographical  References. — As  the  heading  indicates  this  biblio- 
graphical matter  is  restricted  to  articles  treating  of  the  habits  of  the 
bird  in  question.  Where  quotations  are  made  from  these  articles  due 
acknowledgment  is  made  by  cross-reference  in  the  text. 

Contributors. — In  the  preceeding  comments  on  the  plan  of  the 
book,  the  principal  contributors  to  it  have  been  mentioned.  Assist- 
ance, however,  was  received  from  many  others,  in  some  cases  merely 
a  nesting  date,  in  others  more  extended  notes.  Whenever  used  such 
matter  is  duly  acknowledged  and  we  give  here  an  alphabetical  list  of 
all  contributors  of  manuscript  to  the  book.  The  impossibility  of 
including  in  this  list  the  names  of  the  hundreds  of  observers  on  whose 
work  the  migration  tables  are  based  is  regretted,  but  Professor 
Cooke  assures  us  that  the  manner  in  which  these  data  are  presented 
makes  it  impossible  to  give  credit  where  credit  is  due. 

To  Waldron  DeWitt  Miller,  Robert  C.  Murphy,  and  Ludlow 
Griscom  I  am  much  indebted  for  assistance  in  reading  proof. 

LIST  OF  CONTRIBUTORS 

Allison,  Andrew,   Ellisville,   Miss. 

Attwater,  H.  P.,  Houston,  Texas. 

Bagg,  Egbert,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

Barrows,  Walter  B.,  Agricultural  College,  Mich. 

Bishop,  Louis  B.,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Bowles,  C.  W.  and  J.  H.,  Tacoma,  Wash. 

Brewster,  William,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Burns,  Frank  L.,  Berwyn,  Pa. 

Burtch,  Verdi,  Branchport,  N.  Y. 


PLAN  OF  THE  WORK 

Christy,  Bayard  H.,  Sewickley,  Pa. 

Cooke,  VV.  W.,  Biological  Survey,  \Vashington,  D.  C. 

Crandall,  C.  W.,  Woodside,  L.  I. 

Dille,  F.  M.,  Denver,  Colo. 

Farwell,  Mrs.  John  V.,  Jr.,  Lake  Forest,  Ills. 

Fisher,  Walter  K.,  Palo  Alto,  Cal. 

Forbush,  E.  H.,  Wareham,  Mass. 

Ganier,  A.  F.,  Vicksburg,  Miss. 

Gault,  B.  F.,  Glen  Ellyn,  Ills. 

Holmes,  LaRue  K.,  the  late,  Summit,  N.  J. 

Jackson,  T.  H.,  West  Chester,  Pa. 

Jacobs,  J.  Warren,  Waynesburg,  Pa. 

Jones,  Lynds,  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

Kells,  Wm.  L.,  Listowel,  Ont. 

Knight,  O.  W.,  Bangor,  Me. 

Koch,  August,  Williamsport,  Pa. 

McDavitt,  Ina  Lord,  Vineland,  N.  J. 

Mailliard,  J.  J.,  San  Geronimo,  Calif. 

Morgan,  Albert,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Paddock,  Miss  I.  M.,  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 

Sears,  Miss  Annie  L.,  Waltham,  Mass. 

Spaulding,  F.  B.,  Lancaster,  N.  H. 

Stephens,  Frank,  San  Diego,  Calif. 

Thayer,  Gerald  H.,  Dublin,  N.  H. 

Wayne,  A.  T.,  Mt.  Pleasant,  S.  C. 

Widmann,  Otto,  St.  Louis.  Mo. 

Wood,  N.  A.,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 


THE  WOOD  WARBLERS 

THE  GENERAL  CHARACTERS  OF  WARBLERS 

The  American  Warblers  (Family  Mniotiltidse),  or  Wood 
Warblers  as  they  are  more  formally  called  to  distinguish  them  from 
the  wholly  different  Old  World  Warblers  (Family  Sylviidae),  are 
small  insectivorous  birds  with  generally  slender,  sharp-pointed, 
sometimes  flattened,  but  never  hooked  (as  in  the  Vireonidae)  bills. 
The  three  or  four  outer  primaries  are  longest  and  of  nearly  the 
same  length,  the  tarsus  is  posteriorly  ridged  (not  rounded  as  in  the 
Tyrannidae),  the  hind-claw  never  lengthened  (as  in  the  Alaudidas  or 
Motacillidae). 

The  broad,  bristly  billed,  flycatching  members  of  the  family  are 
too  brightly  colored  to  be  mistaken  for  most  North  American  repre- 
sentatives of  the  true  Flycatchers  (Family  Tyrannidae),  from  which 
they  differ  in  other  respects,  and,  among  North  American  birds, 
the  Warblers  are  to  be  confused  in  nature  only  with  the  Vireos  and 
Kinglets.  From  the  Vireos  they  differ  in  wing-formula  and  in  lack- 
ing a  hooked  bill,  while  in  life  they  may  usually  be  distinguished  from 
them  by  their  greater  activity.  The  Vireos  are  more  deliberate  in 
movement,  they  peer,  while  the  Warblers  pirouette,  or  flutter,  turning 
the  whole  body  this  way  then  that,  darting  or  springing  here  or  there, 
the  embodiment  of  perpetual  motion  among  birds. 

The  Kinglets  are  smaller  than  the  smallest  Warbler,  except 
Lucy's  Warbler.  In  the  Golden-crowned  Kinglet  the  black  and 
orange  or  yellow  crest  is  always  diagnostic,  while  the  Ruby-crown's 
habit  of  nervously  twitching  its  wings,  and  wren-like  call  note  will 
readily  distinguish  it  from  any  Warbler. 

PLUMAGE  OF  WARBLERS 

Development  of  Plumage.— When  a  Warbler  leaves  the  egg  it  is 
apparently  naked,  but  close  examination  will  reveal  on  the  feather- 
tracts  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  body  a  scanty  growth  of  the  finest 
down.  This  is  the  'natal  down'.  (See  Dwight,  'The  Sequence  of 


8  PLUMAGE  OF  WARBLERS 

Plumages  and  Moults  of  the  Passerine  Birds  of  New  York.')  While 
the  bird  is  in  the  nest  this  downy  plumage  is  succeeded  by  a  second 
plumage  which  has  been  termed  both  the  'first'  and  the  'Juvenal' 
plumage  but  which,  in  my  opinion,  among  altricial  birds,  may  best  be 
known  as  the  nestling  plumage. 

Where,  in  the  newly  hatched  bird,  there  was  down,  it  is  forced 
outward  by  the  rapidly  growing  feathers  of  the  nestling  plumage, 
on  the  tips  of  which  it  remains  for  a  brief  period.  Where  there 
was  no  natal  down,  the  nestling  plumage  is  the  first  plumage  to  appear. 

When,  at  the  age  of  about  twelve  to  fourteen  days,  the  young 
bird  leaves  the  nest,  the  nestling  plumage  of  its  body  is  virtually 
complete,  but  the  tail  is  stumpy  and  the  wings,  although  they  support 
the  bird  in  its  first  uncertain  flight,  are  not  fully  grown.  Both 
wings  and  tail,  however,  belong  also,  as  we  shall  see,  to  the  first 
fall  plumage,  and  the  distinctive  nestling  plumage  may  therefore 
be  said  to  be  wholly  acquired  in  the  nest. 

No  time  intervenes  between  the  completion  of  the  nestling  plu- 
mage and  the  appearance  of  the  first  feathers  of  the  first  fall  plumage, 
traces  of  which  indeed  may  often  be  detected  in  the  feather  tracts 
of  the  breast  before  the  wings  and  tail  are  fully  grown. 

This  first  fall  plumage  is  acquired  by  molt  of  the  feathers  of  the 
nestling  plumage  and  the  development  of  a  new  growth  of  feathers. 
The  wing  and  the  tail  quills  and  the  primary  wing-coverts  are  retained, 
but  the  remaining  wing-coverts  and  all  the  feathers  of  the  body  are 
shed. 

Although  there  may  be  some  feather-growth  during  the  winter, 
the  first  fall  plumage  remains  virtually  unchanged  until  the  following 
spring,  when,  by  a  molt  involving  the  feathers  of  various  parts  of 
the  body,  but  not  those  of  the  wings  and  tail,  the  first  breeding  plu- 
mage is  acquired. 

With  the  exception  of  Verinivora  bachmani,  Peucedramus 
olivaceus,  Dendroica  chrysoparia,  and  Setophaga  ruticilla,  which 
apparently  do  not  secure  their  mature  plumage  until  their  first  post- 
breeding  molt  (at  the  beginning  of  their  second  autumn),  the  first 
breeding  plumage  resembles  that  of  the  mature  bird,  except  for  such 
minor  differences  as  may  be  shown  in  the  intensity  of  color  of  the 
wings  and  tail. 

Following  the  nesting  season,  in  accordance  with  the  almost 
universal  law  of  molt,  an  entirely  new  set  of  feathers,  including  wing 
and  tail  quills,  is  gained,  and  this,  like  the  plumage  of  the  first  fall, 


PLUMAGE   OF  WARBLERS  9 

is  unchanged  until  the  succeeding  spring  when  certain  feathers  of  the 
body  may  be  changed,  and,  thereafter,  this  order  of  molt  is  apparently 
followed  by  the  species. 

Nestling  Plumage. — It  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  frame  a 
law  which  shall  express  the  relations  of  the  nestling  plumage  of 
Warblers  to  their  adult  plumage.  When,  however,  the  adult  is  olive- 
green  above,  yellow  or  whitish  below  and  without  spots  or  streaks, 
the  young  is  dull  olive-green  or  olive-brown  above,  dusky  olive  or 
grayish  below  with  the  belly  whitish  or  yellowish. 

Examples  are  Vermivora  peregrina,  V .  rubricapilla,  V .  pinus, 
Dendroica  vigorsi,  Geothlypih  trichas,  Oporonis  formosus,  Wilsonia 
pusilla,  W .  citrina,  and  Icteria  virens. 

When  the  plumage  of  the  adult  is  varied  in  pattern  with  streaks 
or  spots,  etc.,  the  plumage  of  the  nestling,  while  it  may  be  widely 
different,  is  generally  streaked  or  spotted.  Examples  are  Mniotilta 
varia,  Dendroica  coronata,  D.  auduboni,  D.  magnolia,  D.  Striata,  D. 
castanea,  D.  fusca,  D.  palmarum,  aitd  the  Seiuri. 

When  the  adult  is  gray  above  the  nestling  is  gray,  as  in  Vervni- 
vora  lucice,  Dendroica  nigrescens,  and  D.  dominica;  and  when  the 
adult  is  brown  above  the  nestling  is  brown  or  brownish,  as  in  Helinaia 
swainsoni,  Helmitheros  vermivorus,  and  Seiurus  aurocapillus. 

As  might  be  expected,  indications  of  common  ancestry  are  betrayed 
by  the  nestling  plumage.  The  nestlings  of  Dendroica  coronata  and 
D.  auduboni,  for  instance,  while  quite  unlike  the  nestling  of  any  other 
Warbler  known  to  me,  very  closely  resemble  one  another,  and  the 
spotted  nestlings  of  Dendroica  striata  and  D.  castanea  are  almost 
indistinguishable.  Among  the  more  uniformly  plumaged,  olive-green 
birds  this  similarity  in  the  plumage  of  the  nestling  also  prevails. 

An  interesting  character  shown  by  the  nestling,  with  but  few 
exceptions,  is  the  presence  of  wing-bars  when  they  are  absent  or 
obscure  in  the  adult.  These  bars  are  usually  buff  but  are  gen- 
erally in  strong  contrast  to  the  wing-coverts,  of  which  they  form  the 
tip.  With  the  molt  from  nestling  into  first  fall  plumage,  these  coverts 
are  shed  and  the  bars  lost,  a  fact  which  suggests  that  the  unbarred 
wing  represents  a  higher  stage  in  the  development  of  the  species 
than  the  barred  wing. 

When,  in  the  adults,  there  exists  a  sexual  difference  in  the  color 
of  the  wings  or  tail,  the  nestling  presents  a  corresponding  difference 
in  color,  since  both  wings  and  tail  are  retained  until  after  the  first 
nesting  season(tf.  g.  Dendroica  c&rulescens) .  When,  however,  no 
such  difference  exists,  the  nestlings  of  both  sexes  are  alike  in  color. 


10  PLUMAGE  OF  WARBLERS 

First  Fall  Plumage. — Leaving  aside  for  the  moment  the  question 
of  the  relation  of  the  fall  plumage  of  the  young  to  that  of  the  adult, 
it  will  be  found  that  most  of  our  Warblers  in  first  fall  plumage 
conform  to  the  general  laws  of  color  in  relation  to  sex  and  age.  These 
may  be  stated  as  follows: 

1.  When  the  adults  are  alike  or  nearly  alike  in  plumage,  the 
young  in  first  fall  plumage  resemble  their  parents  in  spring  plumage. 
Examples     are    Protonotaria,     Helmitheros,     Helinaia,     Vennivora, 
pinus,  V .  lucia,  Dcndroica  dominica,  the  Seiuri,    Oporornis  fonnosus, 
Icteria  virens,  Setophaga  picta,  Cardellina. 

2.  When  the  adults  in  breeding  plumage  differ,  the  young  of 
both  sexes  resemble  either  the  breeding  female  or  the  adults  in  the 
fall.     This  class  includes  by  far  the  largest  number  of  Warblers. 
Examples    are    Mniotilta,     Vermivora    rubricapilla,     V.    eclat  a,     I'. 
peregrina,  Peucedramus,  Compsothlypis,  Dendroica  tigrina,  D.  (estiva, 
D.  coronata,  D.  auduboni,  D.  magnolia,  D.  pensylvanica,  D.  striata, 
D.     castanea,    D.    fusca,    D.    nigrescens,   D.   virens,    D.  townsendi, 
D.    palmarum,    D.    discolor,    Oporornis   agilis,    O.    Philadelphia,    O. 
tolmiei.     Exceptions  are    Vermivora    chrysiptcra,    Dendroica  canilcs- 
cens,  and  Wilsonia  citrina. 

Adult  plumage. — Essentially  adult  plumage,  as  we  have  seen,  is 
acquired  not  later  than  the  first  spring  molt  by  all  our  Warblers  except 
Vermivora  bachmani,  Peucedramus,  Dendroica  chrysoparia,  and 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  in  which  it  is  doubtless  acquired  immediately 
after  the  first  breeding  season,  or  in  the  following  spring. 

Once  acquired,  the  adult  plumage,  as  far  as  color  is  concerned, 
may  remain  virtually  unaltered,  or  it  may  be  changed  for  a  widely 
different  fall  plumage  to  be  worn  until  the  approach  of  the  next  nest- 
ing season,  when  the  mature  breeding  dress  is  regained. 

These  facts  may  be  expressed  in  two  laws  as  follows: 

1.  When  the  sexes  are  alike,  or  nearly  alike,  in  color,  the  fall 
plumage  of  both  is  generally  like  the  spring  plumage.    Examples  are 
Protonotaria,  Helinaia,  Helmitheros,   Vermivora  lucice,   V.   virftinicr. 
V.  pinus,  Dendroica  dominica,  D.  gracice,   D.   kirtlandi,   the  Seiuri, 
Chamcethlypis,  Setophaga  picta,  and  Cardellina. 

2.  When  the  male  in  spring  plumage  differs  from  the  female,  he 
generally  resembles  her  in  fall  plumage.    There  are  numerous  excep- 
tions to  this  law  but  it  holds  good  for  most  species  in  which  there  is 
marked  sexual  difference.    Examples  are:  Dendroica  tigrina,  D.  coro- 
nata,  D.   auduboni,  D.   magnolia,  D.   Pensylvanica,  D.   castanea,  D. 
striata,      D.      fusca.      Exceptions        are:       Vermivora       bachmani. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  WARBLERS  II 

V.    chrysoptefa,    Pencedramus,     Dendroica     ccerulescens,    Oporornis 
agilis,  and  O.  tolmiei. 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  WARBLERS 

The  approximately  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  species  contained  in 
the  family  Mniotiltidae  are  distributed  in  summer  from  Argentina 
to  Labrador  and  northern  Alaska,  including  the  West  Indies  and 
Galapagos.  During  the  winter  few  species  are  found  north  of  the 
southern  border  of  the  United  States.  The  wide  range  of  some 
species  makes  a  geographical  analysis  of  the  group  difficult,  but  by 
allotting  a  species  to  the  region  in  which  it  occupies  the  largest  area, 
we  have  the  following  results: 

South  America  40  species 

Galapagos  10  species 

Central  America  and  Mexico      30  species 
West  Indies  20  species 

North  America  55  species 

Twenty-six  of  the  40  South  American  species  are  contained  in 
the  genus  Basileuterus  and  the  remaining  14  belong  to  the  genera 
Myioborus  (9  species),  Geothlypis  (4  species)  and  Compsothlypis 
(I  species). 

Nine  of  the  Galapagan  species  belong  in  the  somewhat  aberrant 
genus  Certhidea,  placed  in  this  family  for  the  first  time  by  Mr.  Ridg- 
way,  and  one  is  a  Yellow  Warbler  of  the  West  Indian  petechia  group. 
Central  America  and  Mexico,  omitting  the  northern  part  of  the 
tableland,  have  6  species  of  Basileuterus,  2  of  Oreothlypis,  I  of 
Compsothlypis,  1  of  Vermivora,  6  of  Geothlypis,  2  of  Chavna- 
thlypis,  4  of  Granatellus,  3  of  Myioborus,  i  of  Euthlypis,  2  of  Erga- 
ticus,  and  2  of  Rhodinocichla. 

The  West  Indies  have  10  species  of  Dendroica,  i  of  Catharopeza, 
2  of  Teretistris,  i  of  Leucopesa,  i  of  Microligea  and  5  of  Geothlypis. 
The  constitution  of  the  16  North  American  genera  is  stated  on 
a  later  page.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that,  although  of  tropical  origin, 
the  Warblers  now  reach  their  highest  numerical  development  in  North 
America. 

Of  the  16  genera  of  Warblers  found  in  North  America,  the 
following  7  have  no  species  breeding  south  of  our  limits:  Mnio- 
tilta,  Helinaia,  Helmitheros,  Protonotaria,  (all  monotypic),  Opor- 
ornis, Seiurus,  and  Wilsonia.  None  of  the  9  species  of  Vermivora 
nest  south  of  the  Mexican  tableland,  all  but  one  entering  North 


12  DISTRIBUTION  OF  WARBLERS 

America.  Icteria  also  extends  southward  over  the  Mexican  tableland 
and,  with  Vermivora,  is  more  North  American  than  Mexican, 
though  doubtless  of  Mexican  origin. 

This  leaves  7  genera  whose  breeding  range  still  includes  an  area 
in  the  tropics.  Of  these  the  following  6  enter  North  America 
through  Mexico:  Compsothlypis,  Peucedramus,  Geothlypis,  Chamce- 
thlypis,  Cardellina,  and  Setophaga.  With  the  exception  of  the  forms 
of  Geothlypis  trichas,  which  have  apparently  reached  the  Bahamas 
through  Florida,  none  of  these  genera  is  known  to  be  represented  in 
the  breeding  season  in  the  West  Indies. 

On  the  other  hand,  Dendroica  is  evidently  a  West  Indian  genus. 
Excepting  members  of  the  widely  distributed  Yellow  or  Golden 
Warbler  group,  Mexico  has  no  species  of  this  genus  which  are  not 
found  in  the  United  States,  although  3  of  our  species  extend  south- 
ward into  Mexico  as  geographic  forms  (i.  e.  D.  auduboni  nigrifrons, 
D.  a.  goldmani,  and  D.  grades  decora,  the  latter  reaching  Honduras). 

The  West  Indies,  however,  without  including  the  Golden  War- 
blers, have  7  resident  species  of  Dendroica,  5  of  which  are  represented 
in  North  America  by  closely  related  forms  (i.  e.  D.  adelaida  and 
D.  delicata,  by  our  D.  dominica  and  D.  gracia;  D.  vigorsii  achrustera 
and  abacoensis,  by  D.  v.  vigorsi;  D.  vitellina,  by  D.  discolor). 

In  this  evident  West  Indian  origin  of  Dendroica,  we  have  a  prob- 
able explanation  of  the  numerical  abundance  of  the  birds  of  this  genus 
in  the  Eastern  states  as  compared  with  the  Western  states.  Of  the  23 
North  American  species,  only  one,  the  phenomenally  distributed  Yellow 
Warbler,  is  found  in  both  the  Eastern  and  Western  states,  6  occur  in 
the  west  but  not  in  the  east,  one  appears  to  be  restricted  to  east  central 
Texas,  and  15  are  found  in  the  east  but  not  in  the  west. 

This  restriction  of  forms  of  West  Indian  origin  to  the  Eastern 
states,  in  connection  with  their  confinement  to  these  islands  in 
winter,  leads  us  to  consider  Helinaia  and  Helmitheros,  both  confined 
to  the  east,  as  of  West  Indian  rather  than  of  Mexican  origin. 

As  might  be  expected,  therefore,  forms  of  Mexican  origin  (e.  g. 
Icteria  and  Geothlypis),  which  spread  both  to  the  east  and  the  west, 
are  likely  to  occupy  a  larger  area  than  those  which  enter  our  limits 
at  their  extreme  southeastern  border.  In  other  words,  we  share  with 
the  west  many  of  the  Warblers  of  Mexican  origin,  but  give  her  in 
return  few  or  none  of  those  which  have  been  received  from  the  West 
Indies. 

Continuing  the  comparison  begun  under  Dendroica,  we  find,  in 
the  first  place,  that  the  west  has  only  2  genera  of  Warblers  not  repre- 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  WARBLERS  13 

sented  in  the  east,  i.  e.  Cardellina  and  Peucedramus  of  the  Mexican 
tableland,  which  cross  our  border  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  The 
east,  on  the  contrary,  has  the  2  genera  mentioned  above  as  of  probable 
West  Indian  origin  and  also  Mniotilta  and  Protonotaria. 

Chamcethlypis  reaches  our  border  on  the  lower  Rio  Grande,  and 
Compsothlypis  comes  to  us  through  the  same  door  and,  evidently 
finding  the  arid  region  of  the  west  a  bar  to  range  extension  in  that 
direction,  has  followed  the  humid  coast  to  the  north  and  east.  Doubt- 
less the  origin  of  several  other  species  (e.  g.  Oporornis  formosus  and 
Wilsonia  citrina)  of  eastern  Warblers  is  to  be  accounted  for  in  a 
similar  manner. 

The  remaining  8  genera  are  common  to  both  regions  but  it  is 
worthy  of  note  that  only  i  of  them  is  presumably  of  West  Indian  origin. 
Omitting,  therefore,  Chamathlypis  and  Compsothlypis,  as  occupying 
neutral  ground,  the  east  has  12  genera  of  Warblers,  the  west  10.  In 
species,  however,  chiefly  owing  to  the  large  number  of  species  of  Den- 
droica  derived  from  the  West  Indies,  and  to  those  of  other  genera 
which  have  spread  from  eastern  Mexico  eastward,  the  difference 
between  the  east  and  the  west  is  more  pronounced.  It  is  expressed  in 
the  following  figures :  Species  found  in  both  the  east  and  west,  7 ; 
species  found  only  in  the  west,  13;  species  found  only  in  the  east,  32; 
Texas  species,  3 ;  thus  giving  the  east  39  species  as  against  20  for  the 
west. 

It  should  be  added  that  this  comparison  is  based  on  the  Warblers 
of  the  Atlantic  States  with  those  of  the  Pacific  States,  no  account  here 
being  taken  of  the  northwestward  distribution  of  some  species  to 
Alaska  bringing  them  properly  into  the  bird-life  of  western  North 
America,  though  obviously  of  eastern  origin. 

The  subject  is  a  wide  one  and  absence  of  definite  knowledge  of 
the  past  tempts  us  to  speculate  on  the  significance  of  the  present. 
This  outline,  however,  may  well  be  concluded  by  the  appended 

DISTRIBUTIONAL  SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  FAMILY  MNIOTILTID^E. 

Mniotilta,  i  species,  eastern  North  America. 
Helinaia,  i  species,  eastern  North  America. 
Helmitheros,  i  species,  eastern  North  America. 
Protonotaria,  i  species,  eastern  North  America. 
Vermivora,  9  species,  8  North  America,  1  Mexico. 
Oreothlypis,  2  species,  Mexico  and  Central  America. 
Compsothlypis,  3  species,  South  America  from  Argentina  north 
to  Central  America,  Mexico,  and  eastern  North  America. 


14  MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS 

Peucedramus,  i  species,  Guatemala,  Mexico,  southern  Arizona 
-and  New  Mexico. 

Dendroica,  34  species,  South  America,  Central  America,  Mexico, 
West  Indies,  North  America. 

Catharopesa,  i  species,  West  Indies. 

Oporornis,  4  species,  North  America. 

Seiurus,  3  species,  North  America. 

Teretistris,  2  species,  West  Indies. 

Leucopeza,  i  species,  West  Indies. 

Microligea,  i  species,  West  Indies. 

Geothlypis,  19  species,  South  America  from  Argentina  north  to 
'Central  America,  Mexico,  Bahamas,  and  North  America. 

Chamathlypis,  2  species,   Mexico,  Texas. 

Icteria,  i  species,  North  America  and  Mexico. 

Granatellus,  4  species,  South  America,  Central  America  and 
Mexico. 

Wilsonia,  3  species,  North  America. 

Cardellina,  i  species,  Mexico,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico. 

Setophaga,  2  species,  North  America,  Mexico,  Guatemala. 

Myioborus,  12  species,  South  America,  Central  America,  Mexico. 

Ettthlypis,   i  species,  Central  America,  Mexico. 

Basileuterus,  32  species,  South  America  north  to  Central 
.America,  and  Mexico. 

Ergaticus,  2  species,  Central  America,  Mexico. 

Certhidea,  9  species,  Galapagos  Archipelago. 

Rhodinocichla,  2  species,  Northern  South  America  to  Mexico. 

MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS 
BY  W.  W.  COOKE 

Scarcely  a  Warbler  in  the  United  States  remains  through  the 
winter  in  the  vicinity  of  its  nesting  site,  while  most  of  the  North 
American  members  of  this  family  travel  many  hundreds,  or  even 
thousands  of  miles,  to  their  winter  home.  Among  the  few  exceptions 
.are  a  small  number  of  Florida  Yellow- throats  (Geothlypis  trichas 
ifjnota)  that  are  resident  throughout  the  year  in  Florida  and  southern 
Georgia,  and  also  a  few  of  the  western  form  of  the  Orange-crowned 
Warbler  (Vermivora  c.  sordida}  resident  on  the  Santa  Barbara  Islands, 
California. 

The  Pine  Warbler  has  one  of  the  shortest  of  Warbler  migration 
routes,  for  it  does  not  pass  farther  south  in  winter  than  the  southern 


MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS  15 

limit  of  its  breeding  range ;  migration  with  this  species,  therefore,  is 
simply  the  withdrawing  of  the  northern  breeding  individuals  and 
the  massing  of  the  whole  species  in  the  southern  fourth  of  its  summer 
home.  This  same  Pine  Warbler  is  also  one  of  the  very  few  species 
that  are  confined  in  the  winter  season  almost  entirely  to  the  United 
States. 

One  of  the  greatest  travellers  among  the  Warblers  is  the  Black- 
poll,  of  which  species  comparatively  few  individuals  breed  south  of 
Canada,  and  all  winter  in  South  America.  The  shortest  journey  that 
any  Blackpoll  performs  is  3,500  miles,  while  those  that  nest  in  Alaska 
have  7,000  miies  to  travel  to  their  probable  winter  home  in  Brazil. 

Some  individuals  of  most  of  the  species  of  Warblers  desert  the 
United  States  during  the  winter  and,  indeed,  there  are  only  a  few 
species  that  can  be  found  at  all  in  this  country  during  cold  weather. 

The  Myrtle  Warbler  is  the  hardiest,  many  wintering  regularly 
as  far  north  as  southern  New  York,  while  a  few  may  remain  in 
Massachusetts  and  in  Maine.  Most  of  the  Palm  Warblers  spend  the 
winter  in  the  Gulf  States;  a  few  Black  and  White  Warblers  occur 
in  winter  in  northern  Florida  in  company  with  Orange-crowned  and 
Yellow-throated  Warblers,  some  Oven-birds  and  an  occasional 
Northern  Water-Thrush;  while,  in  southern  Florida  a  few  Worm- 
eating,  Parula,  Black-throated  Blue,  and  Prairie  Warblers  may  be 
found. 

The  Black  and  White,  Nashville,  Orange-crowned,  Myrtle,  and 
Sycamore  Warblers  occur  during  the  winter  in  Texas,  principally 
in  the  southern  part.  On  the  Pacific  slope,  at  this  season,  Audubon's 
Warbler  ranges  north  to  southern  Oregon,  and  Townsend's  Warbler 
is  found  in  southern  California. 

Most  of  the  species,  and  by  far  the  larger  number  of  individuals, 
therefore,  go  south  of  the  United  States  in  their  migration,  but 
the  distance  they  travel  varies  greatly.  The  Prairie,  Black- 
throated  Blue,  Swainson's,  Bachman's,  Cape  May  and  Kirtland's 
Warblers  go  only  to  the  West  Indies.  The  Worm-eating,  Myrtle, 
Magnolia,  Chestnut-sided,  Black-throated  Green,  Hooded,  Blue- 
winged,  Nashville,  Orange-crowned,  Parula,  Palm,  and  Wilson's 
Warblers  and  the  Chat,  go  no  farther  than  Central  America,  while 
many  species  spend  the  winter  in  South  America  including  some,  or 
all  the  individuals  of  the  Black  and  White,  Prothonotary,  Golden- 
winged,  Tennessee,  Yellow,  Cerulean,  Bay-breasted,  Blackpoll,  Black- 
burnian  Kentucky,  Connecticut,  Mourning  and  Canada  Warblers, 


16  MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS 

the  Redstart,  Oven-bird  and  both  the  Water-Thrushes.  Nearly  all 
the  Warblers  of  the  western  United  States  spend  the  winter  in  Mexico 
and  the  contiguous  portions  of  Central  America. 

Knowing  that  so  many  Warblers  from  the  eastern  United  States 
spend  the  cold  season  in  South  America,  and  seeing  the  chain  of 
islands  in  the  West  Indies  stretching  from  Florida  to  Venezuela,  one 
would  suppose  these  islands  to  be  the  principal  route  of  migration 
between  the  two  countries.  As  a  fact  no  Warbler  takes  the  shortest 
course  between  New  England  and  South  America,  by  a  direct  flight 
across  the  ocean,  as  is  done  by  many  of  the  water  birds,  and  few 
Warblers  reach  South  America  by  way  of  the  West  Indies.  The 
Blackpoll  and  the  Connecticut  Warbler  are  probably  the  only  ones 
that  use  this  route  regularly  and  commonly,  while  the  rest  of  the 
Warblers  of  the  eastern  United  States,  follow  along  the  coast  to 
Florida,  then  make  a  long  flight  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  thus, 
by  a  roundabout  course  through  Central  America,  reach  their  winter 
home  in  South  America.  In  the  case  of  the  Yellow  Warbler,  the 
route  actually  followed  is  about  two  thousand  miles  longer  than  a 
straight  course  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  The  reasons  for  taking  the 
longer  journey  seem  to  be  the  impossibility  of  making  so  long  a  single 
flight  (2,500  miles)  as  would  be  required  by  the  direct  course  from 
New  England  to  Venezuela  and  the  scarcity  of  food  in  the  West 
Indies  due  to  the  small  size  of  the  eastern  islands. 

The  Warblers  are  night  migrants;  the  hundred-mile  trip  between 
Florida  and  Cuba  is  apparently  always  made  at  night  and  at  such 
a  speed  that,  in  spring  migration,  many  birds  leaving  Cuba  after  sun- 
set, arrive  on  the  Florida  coast  before  midnight.  The  longer  flight, 
five  to  seven  hundred  miles,  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  also  evidently 
made  in  a  single  night  without  stop  or  rest.  How  long  a  journey 
is  made  each  night  when  the  bird  is  flying  over  land  is  as  yet  unknown. 
But  either  the  flight  is  short  or  else,  after  a  single  night's  journey, 
the  bird  stops  for  several  days  to  feed,  for  the  general  advance  of  a 
species  in  its  northward  migration  is  only  a  few  miles  per  day.  The 
Black-and-White  Warbler,  an  early  migrant,  averages  only  thirteen 
miles  per  day  and  occupies  a  whole  month  in  the  journey  from  North 
Carolina  to  Massachusetts.  The  late  migrants  move  faster  and  the 
Canadian  Warbler,  one  of  the  latest,  averages  thirty  miles  per  day 
and  in  a  month  crosses  the  whole  width  of  the  United  States  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Canada. 

Warblers  also  perform  long  migration  journeys  by  day.  May- 
nard  (Birds  E.  N.  A.,  Rev.  ed.,  1896,  585)  describes  a  flight  of 


MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS  !7 

Warblers  observed  off  the  eastern  coast  of  Andros  Island,  Bahamas, 
April  26-28,  1884,  which  lasted  three  days.  Thousands  of  birds  were 
seen  and  none  of  them  flew  more  than  twenty  feet  above  the  water. 
This  observation  is  confirmed  by  Chapman  (Bird-Lore,  VII,  1905, 
140)  who  writes: 

"While  sailing  from  Miami,  Florida,  directly  east  across  the  Gulf 
stream  to  the  Bahamas,  in  May,  1904,  I  observed  three  small  bodies 
of  migrating  Warblers  flying  toward  Florida.  The  birds  were  not 
so  high  in  the  air  as  we  might  have  expected  them  to  be,  but  were 
flying  low,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water. 

"The  first  group  of  six  or  seven  birds,  among  them  a  Redstart,  was 
seen  about  6  A.  M.,  May  10,  when  we  were  some  six  miles  from  land, 
which  was  still,  of  course,  plainly  visible.  Later  in  the  day,  when  we 
were  about  midway  between  the  Florida  coast  and  the  Biminis,  the 
nearest  Bahaman  land,  a  compact  flock  of  seventy  five  to  one  hundred 
Warblers  passed  us,  flying  slightly  north  of  west.  The  birds  were 
not  more  than  ten  feet  above  the  water  and  were  evidently  not  guided 
by  sight  in  their  choice  of  direction. 

"On  the  morning  of  May  n,  as  we  approached  the  Bahaman 
banks,  between  the  Biminis  and  Great  Isaacs,  a  third  group  of  War- 
blers was  seen,  and  they,  like  the  two  preceding,  were  flying  toward 
Florida  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water." 

Warblers  make  the  long  five  hundred  mile  flight  across  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  from  choice,  since,  if  they  desired,  they  could  cross  from 
Florida  to  Cuba  and  from  Cuba  to  Yucatan  without  being  out  of 
sight  of  land.  So  far  as  now  known,  no  Warbler  uses  this  route  in 
migration,  preferring  the  straight  course  over  the  Gulf.  It  seems 
probable  that  even  this  five  hundred  mile  flight  is  not  severely 
exhaustive  to  the  average  bird  as  there  are  good  reasons  for  believing 
that  after  crossing  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  the  spring,  many  Warblers 
do  not  descend  to  earth  as  soon  as  they  sight  the  coast,  but  continue 
inland  many  miles  before  alighting. 

The  farther  north  a  Warbler  goes  the  faster  it  migrates.  The 
Blackpoll  Warblers  that  nest  in  Alaska  occupy  a  month  in  the 
thousand-mile  trip  from  Florida  to  southern  Minnesota,  or  an  average 
of  about  thirty-five  miles  per  day;  while  these  same  birds  make  the 
last  part  of  their  journey,  2,500  miles  to  Alaska,  in  not  over  two 
weeks,  or  at  an  average  speed  of  at  least  two  hundred  miles  per  day. 
When  Warblers  are  feeding  in  the  daytime  during  the  migration 
season,  they  are  continually  on  the  move  and  their  general  direction 
is  toward  their  summer  home.  This  movement  is  not  rapid,  a  person 


18  MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS 

on  foot  can  easily  keep  up  with  the  shifting  flocks,  but  in  the  aggre- 
gate it  amounts  to  quite  a  portion  of  the  whole  distance  to  be  traversed. 
The  northward  or  southward  migration  of  Warblers  is  not  a 
constant,  uniform  movement,  but  rather  a  succession  of  waves. 
Yesterday  the  woods  were  deserted,  to-day  almost  every  tree  is  alive 
with  a  flitting  host  of  bright-hued  migrants ;  in  a  few  hours  they  have 
passed,  to  be  followed,  at  longer  or  shorter  periods,  by  similar  com- 
panies. 

Warblers  have  the  peculiar  habit,  during  migration,  of  collecting 
in  mixed  flocks  composed  of 'many  different  species.  These  com- 
bined flocks  may  be  large  or  small,  but  during  the  height  of  the 
migrating  season,  it  is  rather  unusual  to  find  a  flock  composed  of  a 
single  species.  No  other  group  or  family  of  birds  presents  such  com- 
posite flocks  as  the  Warblers.  In  northern  Minnesota,  twenty-three 
different  species,  most  of  them  in  large  numbers,  were  seen  during 
one  forenoon  in  a  single  spot  in  the  woods  through  which  they  were 
passing  in  practically  a  continuous  flock. 

The  Warblers,  as  a  whole,  are  among  the  later  Spring  migrants. 
Feeding  on  insects,  they  remain  in  their  southern  homes  until  Spring 
is  well  advanced  and  their  food  abundant.  Their  northward  move- 
ment is  more  rapid  than  the  advance  of  the  season.  Thus  some  Yellow 
Warblers  arrive  in  the  Great  Slave  region  when  the  average  daily 
temperature  is  only  47°  F.  But  these  same  Warblers  remain  so  late 
in  South  and  Central  America,  that  when  they  reach  New  Orleans, 
about  April  5,  an  average  daily  temperature  of  65°  F.  awaits  them. 
Thence  northward  they  hasten,  covering  one  thousand  miles  in  a 
month,  and,  moving  faster  than  the  advance  of  Spring,  find  in  southern 
Minnesota  a  temperature  of  55°  F.,  and  when  they  arrive,  late  in  May, 
at  Great  Slave  Lake,  they  have  gained  8°  more  on  the  season.  During 
the  whole  trip  from  New  Orleans  to  Great  Slave  Lake,  these  birds 
are  continually  meeting  colder  weather.  The  last  fifteen  days  they 
traverse  a  district  that  Spring  requires  thirty-five  days  to  cross.  Late 
and  rapid  journeys  of  this  kind  offer  certain  advantages;  fewer 
storms  are  encountered  and  food  is  more  plentiful  along  the  way. 

The  mortality  of  birds  during  the  time  of  migration  is  very  great 
and  probably  no  other  family  suffers  so  severely  as  the  Warblers. 
Small  in  size,  with  loose  feathers  ill  adapted  to  withstand  storm  or 
rain,  they  nevertheless  cross  and  recross  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which 
doubtless  becomes  each  year  the  watery  grave  of  untold  thousands. 
Warblers  are  peculiarly  susceptible  to  the  attraction  of  a  bright  light, 
and  on  stormy  or  dark  nights  during  the  period  of  migration,  many 


MIGRATION  OF  WARBLERS  ly, 

kill  themselves  by  striking  light-houses.  When  the  dead  birds  at 
the  foot  of  any  light-house  are  examined  after  a  disastrous  night, 
more  than  half  are  always  found  to  be  Warblers. 

How  the  Warblers  find  their  way  in  the  long  night  journeys 
is  still  a  disputed  point.  Some  believe  that  they  are  guided 
entirely  by  sight  and  that  mountain  ranges  and  river  courses  form 
prominent  land  marks  to  aid  in  finding  the  course.  Others  go  to 
the  opposite  extreme  and  attribute  to  a  so-called  'sense  of  direction/ 
the  bird's  wonderful  success  in  retracing  its  way  to  the  last  year's 
home.  Still  others  think  they  have  explained  the  case  sufficiently 
when  they  say  the  bird  finds  its  way  by  instinct,  while  still  others 
deny  the  efficacy  of  instinct  and  affirm  that  the  young  birds  are 
led  in  their  southward  journey  by  the  old  birds,  who  in  turn 
remember  the  route  from  their  previous  season's  passage.  All 
observers  are  agreed  that  each  Warbler  intends  to  return  each 
year  to  the  general  vicinity  of  the  last  year's  nest  and  that  most  of 
them  succeed. 

Almost  as  great  a  diversity  of  opinion  exists  as  to  the  reasons 
for  bird  migration,  both  as  to  its  original  cause  and  the  factors 
that  at  present  work  for  its  continuance.  There  are  two  general 
theories  in  regard  to  the  origin  of  migration.  One,  that  the  birds, 
originally  non-migratory,  increased  so  in  numbers  that  their  home 
became  overcrowded  and  adventurous  birds,  passing  beyond  the 
usual  boundaries,  found  new  and  congenial  nesting  sites.  From 
these  they  were  driven  by  the  winter's  shortage  of  food,  to  return 
again  the  following  summer.  In  this  view  of  the  case,  the  place 
of  residence  in  the  winter  is  the  bird's  true  home,  which  it  deserts- 
in  the  summer  for  the  purpose  of  reproduction. 

The  second  theory  is  the  direct  opposite  of  the  one  just  given. 
According  to  this  second  theory  the  nesting-site  is  the  bird's  real 
home,  from  which  it  was  driven  originally  by  the  advancing  ice 
of  the  Glacial  Epoch,  and  the  habit  of  migration  thus  induced  has 
been  continued  through  the  ages.  Both  theories  base  the  origin 
of  migration  on  a  failure  of  the  food  supply,  the  one  a  failure  in  the 
winter  home  and  the  other  in  the  summer. 

But  whatever  the  cause,  the  migration  of  Warblers  as  now 
conducted  is  at  widely  different  periods.  The  Myrtle  Warbler 
presses  north  in  the  Spring  when  the  trees  are  still  bare  of  leaves, 
while  the  Canada  Warbler  forms  one  of  the  rear  guard,  after 
vegetation  has  reached  nearly  full  summer  luxuriance.  Instead 
of  waiting  until  the  winter's  cold  and  a  shortage  of  food  compel 


20  SONGS   OF  WARBLERS 

them  to  depart,  the  more  southern  breeding  individuals  of  the 
Summer  Warbler  and  the  Redstart  begin  their  fall  migration  in 
early  July,  when  the  season  is  warmest,  and  their  insect  food 
supply  has  not  yet  reached  its  maximum. 

In  the  light  of  the  foregoing  statements,  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  study  of  bird  migration  has  interested  naturalists  for  genera- 
tions and  that  the  number  of  students  of  the  migration  of  birds  is 
steadily  increasing. 

SONGS  OF  WARBLERS 

From  a  purely  musical  point  of  view,  Warblers,  as  a  family,  take 
low  rank  as  songsters.  Nevertheless,  the  voices  of  even  the  technically 
least-gifted  among  them  often  so  potently  appeal  to  our  memory  that, 
as  we  hear  them,  the  pleasures  of  the  past  are  added  to  our  enjoyment 
of  the  present.  All  the  sweetness  and  promise  of  spring  seems  stored 
in  Parula's  little  sizzling  gurgle ;  there  is  good  cheer  and  sunshine  in 
Yellow  Warbler's  simple  lay;  peace  and  rest  in  the  quaint  seeing 
of  the  Black-throated  Green.  The  flight  songs  of  the  Seiuri  and  the 
unique  potpourri  of  the  Chat,  however,  give  these  Warblers  just  claim 
to  a  place  among  our  leading  song-birds. 

If  not  great  songsters,  the  Warblers  are  at  least  great  singers. 
During  the  winter,  I  have  heard  only  the  Pine  Warbler  sing,  but  all 
the  species,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  sing  freely  during  their  migrations 
and  many  of  them  have  a  second,  if  brief,  song  period  in  the  Fall. 

Acquaintance  with  their  songs  is  of  the  greatest  assistance  in 
identifying  these  small,  active  haunters  of  the  tree-tops,  not  one  in 
a  hundred  of  which  may  be  satisfactorily  seen.  It  would,  therefore, 
be  fortunate  for  the  student  of  birds  with  a  field-glass  if  some  intelli- 
gible method  of  transcribing  Warbler's  songs  could  be  devised.  But, 
alas !  not  only  do  two  people  rarely  hear  the  same  song  alike,  but  one's 
best  attempts  at  description  after  a  time  are  often  meaningless  to 
oneself.  Still  a  description  of  a  bird's  notes  may  be  an  aid  to  identi- 
fication, and  especial  attention  has  therefore  been  paid  to  this  phase 
of  Warblers'  biographies,  while  the  following  classification  of  War- 
blers' songs  may  further  assist  the  student  in  gaining  a  clue  to  the 
identity  of  some  well-heard  but  poorly  seen  singer. 

A  preliminary  arrangement  places  in  one  group  birds  which  sing 
more  than  once  or  twice  from  the  same  perch ;  in  another,  those  which 
pause  only  while  singing  and,  between  songs,  continue  their  search 
for  food  or,  indeed,  sing  even  while  moving.  It  will  be  observed 


SONGS   OF  WARBLERS  21 

that  in  the  first  group  are  included  all  the  terrestrial  and  sub-terrestrial 
species,  the  lowly  nature  of  whose  haunts  do  not  meet  the  require- 
ments of  a  singing-perch,  and,  abandoning  for  a  time  their  search 
for  insects,  they  mount  to  a  favoring  branch  and  give  themselves 
wholly  to  song.  As  if  in  reward  for  their  earnestness  we  find  that 
this  group  contains  all  the  notable  songsters  of  the  family. 

CLASS  I.    WARBLERS  WHICH  SING  WHILE  RESTING. 
Group  A.    Loud,  whistled  songs. 

Prothonotary,  Swainson's,  Olive  (?),  and  Kirtland's  Warblers, 
Pine  and  Yellow-throated  Warblers  (sing  also  while  mov- 
ing), Oven-bird,  Northern  Water-Thrush,  Louisiana  Water-Thrush, 
Kentucky,  Connecticut,  Mourning,  and  Macgillivray's  Warblers, 
Northern  Yellow-throat  and  races  (sing  also  while  moving),  Chatr 
and  probably  also  Belding's  and  Rio  Grande  Yellow-throats. 

Group  B.     Warblers  which  have  not  loud,  whistled  songs. 
Tennessee,  Cape  May,  Blackburnian,  Palm. 

CLASS  II.    WARBLERS  WHICH  SING  WHILE  FEEDING. 

Group  A.    Songs  of  the  wee-chee  or  cher-wee  type,  with  a  whistled 

quality. 

Yellow,  Magnolia,  Chestnut-sided,  Bay-breasted,  Grace's,  Palm, 
Hooded,  Canadian  and  Wilson's  Warblers,  American  Redstart. 

Group  B.     Warblers  whose  songs  possess  pebbly,   twittering  notes 
or  which  suggest  a  song  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow  or  Junco  type. 

Worm-eating,  Bachman's,  Nashville,  Orange-crowned,  Tennessee^ 
Virginia's,  Myrtle,  Audubon's  and  Palm  Warblers. 

Group  C.     Warblers  in  whose  songs  there  is  a  pronounced 
zee  quality.    ' 

Blue-winged,  Golden-winged,  Parula,  Black-throated  Blue,  Ceru- 
lean, Golden-cheeked  (?),  Black-throated  Green,  Townsend's,  Hermit, 
and  Prairie  Warblers. 

Group  D.     Warblers  with  a  thin  or  wiry  song. 
Black  and  White,  Cape  May,  Blackpoll,  Blackburnian. 


22  NESTING  HABITS  OF  WARBLERS 

CLASS  III.    WARBLERS  WITH  A  FLIGHT  SONG. 

Prothonotary,  Golden-winged  (?),  Nashville,  Orange-crowned, 
and  Tennessee  (?)  Warblers,  Oven-bird,  Northern  Water-Thrush, 
Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  Mourning  Warbler,  Northern  Yellow- 
throat  and  races,  Worm-eating  Warbler,  Chat. 

NESTING  HABITS  OF  WARBLERS 

Although  only  the  three  Seiuri,  among  our  fifty-five  species  of 
Warblers,  may  be  considered  truly  terrestrial,  no  less  than  nine- 
teen species  nest  upon  the  ground,  and  fifteen  more  usually  nest 
within  less  than  three  feet  of  it.  There  is,  in  general,  a  relation 
between  the  color  of  the  bird  and  the  character  of  its  nesting- 
site.  The  terrestrial  species  are,  as  might  be  expected,  dull  colored, 
but  even  among  the  arboreal  species  which  nest  on  the  ground, 
striking  colors  are  less  frequent  than  among  those  which  nest  in 
trees.  A  marked  exception  to  this  rule,  however,  is  presented  by 
Setophaga  picta,  which  nests  in  banks,  etc.,  although  the  female  is 
indistinguishable  from  the  black  and  red  male. 

Data  do  not  exist  upon  which  satisfactorily  to  ascertain  the 
comparative  safety  of  ground  and  tree  sites.  While  the  former  are 
more  open  to  attack  by  terrestrial  predaceous  mammals  and  snakes, 
a  nest  in  the  trees  is  more  likely  to  be  visited  by  Crows  and  Jays. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Cowbird  appears  to  be  more  partial 
to  a  nest  upon  the  ground,  nearly  one-half  of  the  twenty-four 
species  of  Warblers  in  whose  nests  its  egg  has  been  found  being 
ground  nesters.  On  the  whole,  we  may  assume  that  the  tree  site 
is  the  safer,  and  the  fact  that  our  most  abundant  Warblers  nest 
in  bushes  or  trees  gives  this  view  some  support. 

We  have  not  as  yet  many  intimate  studies  of  the  home-life 
of  Warblers  but,  so  far  as  recorded  observations  go,  it  appears 
that  the  nest  is  built  by  the  female  to  the  accompaniment  of  the 
male's  song.  Occasionally  the  male  is  permitted  to  bring  a  bit  of 
nesting  material  but  he  apparently  rarely  takes  part  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  home. 

The  male  Pine  Warbler  is  said  rarely  to  sit  upon  the  eggs 
but  with  this  exception,  I  find  no  evidence  that  the  male  ever 
assists  in  incubation.  He,  however,  lives  near  the  nest  and  may 
at  times  feed  the  female  while  she  is  upon  it. 

The  period  of  incubation  in  Warblers,  as  far  as  it  has  been 
ascertained,  is  ten  or  eleven  days,  but  so  little  exact  information 


FOOD  OF  WARBLERS  23 

in  regard  to  this  subject  exists  that  some  variation  from  this  time 
will  doubtless  be  found. 

The  young  are  cared  for  by  both  parents  and  leave  the  nest 
when  from  eight  to  twelve  days  old,  or  on  the  completion  of  the  nestling 
plumage.  In  most  cases  but  one  brood  is  reared. 

FOOD    OF  WARBLERS 

BY  EDWARD  HOWE  FORBUSH 

It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  for  the  preservation  of  the 
forests,  which  supply  the  raw  material  for  nearly  all  wood  products, 
man  is  largely  indebted  to  birds.  The  service  that  birds  perform 
in  protecting  woodland  trees  against  the  inroads  of  injurious 
insects  is  more  nearly  indispensable  to  him  than  any  other  bene- 
faction that  his  feathered  friends  confer,  for  the  money  value  of 
woods,  while  great  in  the  aggregate,  is  not  ordinarily  large  enough 
to  repay  the  owners  the  expense  of  protecting  the  trees  against 
insect  enemies,  even  were  this  possible. 

A  single  species  of  insect  may  be  too  much  for  man  to  cope 
with  when  it  infests  his  woodland.  The  wild  animals  and  venom- 
ous serpents  of  the  woods  he  may  exterminate ;  but,  in  spite  of  all 
his  efforts,  insects,  dangerous  to  human  life  or  destructive  to 
property,  still  infest  the  land. 

Dr.  A.  S.  Packard  enumerates  over  four  hundred  species  of 
insects  that  feed  upon  our  oaks.  All  other  forest  trees  have  many 
enemies  of  their  own.  Insects  attack  all  parts  of  the  tree,  and  in  so 
many  insidious  ways  that  man  cannot  hope  to  check  them  all. 
Were  the  natural  enemies  of  insects  annihilated,  every  tree  of  the 
woods  would  be  threatened  with  destruction  and  we  would  be 
powerless  to  prevent  the  impending  calamity.  We  might  save  a 
few  orchards  and  shade  trees ;  we  might  find  means  to  raise  some 
vegetables;  but  the  protection  of  all  the  trees  in  all  the  woods 
would  be  beyond  our  powers. 

It  may  be  profitable  to  spray  orchards  with  insecticides  but 
it  does  not  pay  to  spray  wood-lots ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  expense 
of  the  manual  labor  that  must  be  utilized  in  combating  insects  that 
cannot  be  reached  by  ordinary  insecticides.  So  we  must  leave 
the  protection  of  the  woods  to  birds  and  other  natural  enemies  of 
injurious  insects. 

Birds  attain  their  greatest  usefulness  in  woodlands,  mainly 
because  the  conditions  prevailing  there  closely  approach  the  nat- 


24  FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 

ural,  and  organic  nature  has  a  chance  to  adjust  her  balances  with- 
out much  human  interference. 

Warblers  are  among  the  most  useful  birds  of  the  woods,  for  to 
them  mainly  is  given  the  care  of  the  foliage.  Trees  cannot  live 
without  leaves.  Lepidopterous  larvae,  commonly  called  caterpillars, 
are  among  the  greatest  of  leaf-destroyers.  They  form  a  great 
part  of  the  food  of  Warblers  and  are  fed  very  largely  to  their 
young. 

As  the  spring  waxes  warm  and  merges  into  summer,  the  open- 
ing buds  and  growing  leaves  are  attacked  by  a  succession  of  cater- 
pillars of  different  species,  which,  were  they  not  checked  by  birds, 
would  soon  strip  all  trees  of  their  foliage  and  keep  them  stripped 
throughout  the  season.  Trees  breathe  through  their  leaves  and, 
lacking  them  for  a  considerable  period,  they  must  die.  Coniferous 
trees  are  killed  by  a  single  defoliation.  Deciduous  trees  last 
longer  but  the  end  is  sure. 

Warblers  save  the  leaves  by  constantly  pursuing  and  killing 
caterpillars.  While  living  in  the  woods  year  after  year  I  have  been 
greatly  impressed  by  the  vast  annual  uprising  of  these  pests  and 
the  strong  repressive  influence  exerted  by  the  Warblers  upon 
their  increase.  Each  brood  of  hundreds  of  caterpillars  that  hatches 
from  the  hidden  egg-cluster  is  soon  so  reduced  in  number  that  very 
few  live  to  maturity  and,  even  though  the  survivors  may  riddle 
many  leaves,  the  trees  remain  practically  uninjured  and  the  woods 
maintain  their  luxuriant  summer  verdure. 

Thus  the  presence  of  Warblers  in  woodlands  goes  far  towards 
preserving  the  trees  for  their  owner.  Even  should  the  caterpillars 
stop  short  of  killing  the  defoliated  trees,  the  lumberman  would 
still  owe  to  the  birds  such  profit  as  accrues  from  woodlands,  for 
without  their  aid  the  trees  would  be  so  reduced  in  growth  that  they 
would  yield  no  profit.  While  a  tree  is  stripped  of  its  leaves  it 
makes  no  wood  growth.  The  wood-ring  for  that  year  is  smaller 
than  usual,  and  the  annual  profit  on  the  tree  is  proportionately 
decreased. 

Warblers  never  receive  credit  for  the  good  they  do,  because 
the  insects  that  they  eat  are  mainly  of  small  size,  and  the  majority 
of  larger  species  eaten  by  them  are  taken  in  infancy  and  before 
they  have  had  a  chance  to  work  noticeable  injury.  Warblers 
destroy  many  of  the  young  larvae  of  such  great  and  destructive 
insects  as  the  Cecropia  and  Polyphemus  moths  while  these  insects 
are  still  too  small  to  attract  attention.  These  larvae  which  were  so 


FOOD  OF  WARBLERS  25 

injurious  on  the  "tree  claims"  of  the  prairie  States  before  arboreal 
birds  became  abundant  there,  are  almost  never  numerous  enough 
to  be  destructive  where  such  birds  are  plentiful.  The  fact  that 
Warblers  do  away  with  these  insects  while  the  caterpillars  are  still 
very  small  and  before  they  have  had  a  chance  to  do  any  real  injury, 
is  of  great  economic  significance.  It  may  yet  place  them  on  a  par, 
as  regards  usefulness,  with  the  Cuckoo  and  other  larger  birds, 
which  are  considered  to  be  among  the  most  useful  caterpillar  hunt- 
ers, but  which  probably  prefer  the  larger  caterpillars ;  for  the 
Warbler,  notwithstanding  its  small  size,  may  be  able  to  destroy 
more  individual  caterpillars  in  their  infancy  than  even  the  Cuckoo 
can  devour  after  the  same  caterpillars  have  increased  several  hun- 
dred times  in  size. 

Warblers  are  mainly  insectivorous  and  most  species  cannot 
live  long  without  insect  food.  Hence  their  economic  position  is 
quite  different  from  that  of  the  Vireos,  Thrushes,  or  Sparrows,  for 
example,  for  these  can  live  either  largely  or  entirely  for  consider- 
able periods  on  vegetable  food. 

Warblers  are  obliged  to  spend  a  great  part  of  their  time  in  a 
continual  hunt  for  insects.  Digestion  in  most  small  birds  is  con- 
tinuous and  the  stomach  is  filled  many  times  each  day.  It  is  some- 
times so  packed  with  food  that  when  one  is  dissected  the  contents 
will  expand  to  twice,  or,  as  Professor  F.  E.  L.  Beal  tells  me,  nearly 
three  times,  the  size  of  that  organ. 

It  would  seem  impossible  for  digestion  to  go  on  under  such 
circumstances,  but  it  nevertheless  progresses  so  rapidly  that,  unless 
the  food  supply  is  constantly  replenished,  the  stomach  is  soon 
empty.  The  capacity  of  Warblers  for  consuming  the  smaller 
insects  may  be  shown  by  the  statement  of  a  few  facts.  According 
to  Dr.  S.  D.  Judd,  Mr.  Robert  H.  Coleman  stated  in  a  letter  to  the 
Biological  Survey,  that  he  counted  the  number  of  insects  caught 
by  a  Palm  Warbler  and  found  that  it  varied  from  forty  to  sixty 
per  minute.  He  says  "the  bird  spent  at  least  four  hours  on  our 
piazza,,  and  in  that  time  must  have  gathered  in  about  nine  thousand, 
five  hundred  insects."1 

Of  course  the  insects  in  this  case  must  have  been  very  small ; 
but  some  of  the  greatest  pests  are  small  at  maturity,  as,  for 
instance,  the  Hessian  fly  and  the  wheat  midge, — insects  which 

1  The  Birds  of  a  Maryland  Farm,  by  Sylvester  D.  Judd,  Bulletin  No.  17, 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Biological  Survey,  p.  104. 


26  FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 

have  caused  losses  of  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars  to  the  wheat 
growers  of  the  United  States. 

My  former  assistant,  Mr.  F.  H.  Mosher,  one  day  observed  a 
pair  of  (Marylan-:!)  Yellow-throats  feeding  upon  the  aphis  that  infests 
the  gray  birch.  One  of  these  birds  ate  eighty-nine  of  these  tiny 
insects  in  a  minute.  Mr.  Mosher  watched  the  pair  eating  at  this 
rate  for  forty  minutes,  and  states  that  they  must  have  eaten  over 
seven  thousand  plant-lice  in  that  time.2  His  field-notes  also  give 
instances  where  numbers  of  caterpillars  of  considerable  size  were 
eaten  within  very  brief  periods,  by  Warblers. 

A  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  was  seen  to  capture  and  eat,  in 
fourteen  minutes,  twenty-two  gipsy  caterpillars,  that  were  posi- 
tively identified,  and  other  insects  that  could  not  be  seen  plainly 
were  taken  during  that  time.  A  Nashville  Warbler  ate  forty-two 
of  these  caterpillars  in  thirty  minutes,  with  many  other  insects  as 
well,  that  either  could  not  be  plainly  seen  or  fully  identified.  A 
(Maryland)  Yellow-throat  was  seen  to  eat  fifty-two  caterpillars 
within  a  short  time. 

A  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  took  twenty-eight  browntail  cater- 
pillars in  about  twelve  minutes.  When  we  consider  that  the  short 
hairs  on  the  posterior  parts  of  this  caterpillar  are  barbed  like  the 
quills  of  a  porcupine  and  will  penetrate  the  human  skin,  causing 
excessive  irritation  and  painful  eruptions,  we  may  well  wonder  if 
the  little  bird  lived  to  repeat  this  performance.  But  many  small 
birds  eat  these  caterpillars  at  a  time  when  probably  the  noxious 
hairs  have  not  fully  developed,  and  others  seem  to  have  learned  to 
divest  the  larger  caterpillars  of  their  hairs  by  beating  and  shaking 
their  prey  and  thus  loosening  the  hairs,  which  are  shed  as  the  por- 
cupine sheds  its  quills.  The  insect  is  then  eaten  with  impunity 
and  even  fed  to  young  birds. 

Still  other  birds  reject  the  external  parts  of  the  larvae  and, 
tearing  them  open,  eat  only  small  portions  of  their  viscera.  A 
Black  and  White  Warbler  was  seen  to  take  twenty-eight  of  these 
caterpillars  in  ten  minutes  and  probably  took  many  more.  A  Yel- 
low Warbler  ate  thirty-three  canker  worms  in  a  little  over  six 
minutes. 

Practically  all  the  Warblers  feed  very  largely  at  times  on 
measuring  worms  and  other  hairless  caterpillars.  I  once  noticed 

1  Birds  as  Protectors  of  Woodlands,  by  E.  H.  Forbuhs,  Forty-eighth  Annual 
Report  of  the  Massachusetts  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  1000,  p.  303. 


FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 


27 


that  in  an  orchard  infested  by  canker  worms,  those  trees  nearest  some 
woods  were  soon  cleared  of  the  worms,  mainly  by  Warblers,  which 
came  from  the  woods  and  sprout-land  to  feed  upon  them. 

Among  the  favorite  caterpillars  eaten  by  Warblers  are  those  of 
the  Tortricidae,  or  leaf  rollers,  which  birds  are  very  expert  in  taking* 
from  their  places  of  concealment  in  the  rolled-up  leaves.  The 
little  case-bearing  caterpillars,  which  are  at  times  so  injurious  to 
fruit,  shade,  and  forest  trees,  also  are  eaten  by  Warblers.  The 
larvae  of  the  night-flying  owlet  moths  (Noctuidse),  which  include 
the  army  worm  and  the  various  cutworms,  are  not  so  often  eaten 
by  Warblers,  but  such  species  as  climb  trees  are  attacked  by  these 
birds  while  the  ground  Warblers  probably  feed  on  cutworms  to 
some  extent. 

There  are  some  caterpillars  that  are  supposed  to  have  a  cer- 
tain immunity  from  the  attacks  of  birds,  either  because  they  are 
protected  by  spines,  covered  with  hair,  or  secrete  acrid  or  other 
distasteful  or  poisonous  matter  which  renders  them  unfit  for  food. 
The  families  of  silk-spinning  moths,  formerly  collectively  known 
as  the  Bombycidae,  but  now  subdivided  into  many  groups,  include 
a  number  of  the  insects  most  injurious  to  fruit,  shade,  and  forest 
trees.  The  larvae  of  these  insects  are  hairy.  It  is  widely  believed 
that  such  caterpillars  are  never  troubled  by  more  than  a  very  few 
species  of  birds.  But  I  have  learned  by  observation  that  in  these 
cases,  as  in  many  others,  protection  often  fails  to  protect.  I  now 
believe  that  when  these  caterpillars  are  very  young  and  small, 
most  Warblers  eat  them  with  avidity,  for  they  can  do  so  with 
impunity  at  this  time  when  the  hairs  or  spines  have  not  developed 
sufficient  strength  to  be  disagreeable. 

The  forest  tent-caterpillar  and  the  apple-tree  tent-caterpillar 
are  two  hairy  native  species,  while  the  caterpillars  of  the  brown- 
tail  moth  and  the  gipsy  moth,  previously  mentioned,  are  two  very 
destructive  introduced  species.  All  of  these  are  eaten  by  most  of 
the  commoner  Warblers  of  New  England.  The  two  imported 
species  were  fought  for  years  by  the  Massachusetts  State  Govern- 
ment, which  expended  more  than  a  million  dollars  and  then  gave 
up  the  fight.  These  two  pests  are  now  beyond  the  bounds  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  may  be  expected  to  spread  over  a  great  part  of  the 
United  States,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  fight  against  them  has 
now  been  renewed  in  Massachusetts  and  taken  up  in  other  states. 
These  insects  have  now  become  pests  of  the  orchard,  garden  and 
forest,  feeding  on  nearly  all  kinds  of  trees  and  vegetation. 


28  FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 

They  are  even  more  destructive  here  than  they  ever  were  in 
Europe,  for  here  they  have  escaped  most  of  their  native  enemies. 
Hence  those  American  birds  that  have  learned  to  eat  them  may 
prove  of  great  economic  value.  It  happens  that  the  browntail 
larvae  emerge  from  the  egg  in  the  fall,  at  a  time  when  the  Warblers 
that  breed  in  the  Canadian  Provinces  and  the  northern  tier  of 
states  are  returning  southward  in  migration,  while  the  gipsy  larvae 
begin  to  hatch  as  the  spring  migration  begins.  The  Warblers,  in 
both  cases,  appear  at  just  the  right  time  and  destroy  the  small 
larvae  by  thousands.  The  tent-caterpillar  and  the  forest  caterpillar 
also  are  attacked  by  them  during  the  spring,  and  eaten  in 
considerable  numbers.  The  larvae  of  butterflies  are  taken  as  well 
as  the  pupae  and  imagoes  of  many  Lepidoptera.  Warblers,  how- 
ever, in  their  selection  of  food  are  not  confined  to  any  one  order 
of  insects.  They  are  well  fitted  to  pursue  and  capture  any  of  the 
smaller  insects,  except  those  that  hide  in  the  ground  or  in  the  solid 
wood,  and  even  they  are  in  danger  if  they  ever  show  themselves 
in  daylight  outside  their  chosen  retreats. 

The  habits  and  haunts  of  the  Warblers  are  so  varied  that, 
collectively,  the  species  of  this  family  exert  a  repressive  influence 
on  nearly  all  orders  of  insects,  from  those  that  live  on  or  near  the 
ground  to  those  that  frequent  the  very  tree-tops.  The  Oven-birds, 
Water-Thrushes,  Yellow-throats,  and  the  other  ground  Warblers 
search  the  ground,  the  fallen  leaves,  and  undergrowth  for  the 
species  most  commonly  found  there  as  well  as  those  that  fall  from 
the  trees.  Where  grasshoppers  are  plentiful  the  ground  Warblers 
sometimes  feed  largely  on  them.  The  bugs  that  are  found  so  often 
on  berry  bushes,  are  not  overlooked,  notwithstanding  their  rank 
taste,  which  is  so  well  known  to  all  who  have  picked  blueberries 
from  the  bushes.  The  eggs  of  bugs  are  also  eaten. 

Another  family  belonging  to  this  order  (Hemiptera),  which  is 
often  prominent  among  the  food  of  Warblers,  is  the  Aphididae  or 
plant-lice,  previously  mentioned.  Most  Warblers  probably  eat 
certain  of  these  insects  or  their  eggs.  Each  of  these  eggs  may 
represent  the  future  form  of  plant-louse  known  as  the  Stem  Mother 
which,  no  mishap  occurring  to  shorten  the  natural  life  of  her 
descendants,  would,  according  to  Huxley,  produce  in  ten  genera- 
tions a  mass  of  plant-lice  equal  in  bulk  to  that  of  five  hundred  million 
human  beings,  or  the  population  of  the  Chinese  Empire.  A  few 
species  of  Warblers  eat  bark  lice  and  scale  insects. 


FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 


29 


Beetles  (Coleoptera)  form  a  varying  part  of  the  food  of  Warblers. 
While  a  few  beneficial  species  are  eaten,  the  vast  majority  taken 
are  believed  to  be  either  neutral  or  injurious.  The  useful  lady- 
bugs  (Coccinellidae)  apparently  are  seldom  eaten.  The  tiger  beetles 
and  the  larger  useful  ground  beetles  ( Cicindelidae  and  Carabidae)  are 
not  much  sought  by  Warblers. 

Many  of  the  injurious  bark  beetles  and  other  boring  beetles  are 
greedily  eaten.  Bark  beetles  (Scolytidae)  are  among  the  most 
insidious  and  deadly  enemies  of  trees.  They  often  complete  the 
destruction  of  trees  that  have  been  defoliated  by  caterpillars. 
Unable,  as  they  usually  are,  to  live  in  the  most  thrifty  and  vigorous 
trees,  a  tree  is  no  sooner  weakened  by  the  loss  of  its  leaves,  than 
these  beetles  are  attracted  to  it.  Their  eggs  are  soon  deposited 
and  the  resulting  larvae  bore  away  among  the  vital  tissues  of  the 
tree  along  the  inner  surface  of  the  bark.  If  their  increase  is  not 
checked,  a  year  or  two  of  their  work  is  sufficient  to  destroy  the 
noblest  trees  of  the  forest.  The  Warblers,  however,  attack  these 
borers  as  they  mature  and  emerge  from  their  burrows  in  the  pair- 
ing season.  The  Black  and  White  Warbler,  which  in  summer 
takes  the  place  so  well  filled  in  winter  by  the  Brown  Creeper,  prob- 
ably leads  in  the  destruction  of  bark  beetles,  but  many  other 
species  eat  them,  and  thus  the  Warblers  again  come  to  the  rescue 
of  the  trees. 

Warblers  are  not  only  useful  in  woodland  by  destroying  bor- 
ers, they  are  valuable  also  in  orchards.  Professor  S.  A.  Forbes 
found  that  fifteen  Warblers  shot  in  an  orchard  infested  by  canker 
worms  in  Illinois,  had  all  eaten  Cerambycid  beetles,  or  borers,  to 
the  amount  of  ten  per  cent,  of  their  stomach  contents.  Other 
important  elements  of  the  food  of  Warblers  at  times  are  the 
destructive  click  beetles  and  weevils.  Leaf-eating  beetles  also  are 
eaten. 

Many  Hymenoptera  are  taken  by  the  flycatching  Warblers, 
such  as  the  Redstart  and  other  species  that  capture  much  of  their 
food  on  the  wing.  Some  of  the  wasps  and  bees  taken  are  bene- 
ficial, but  they  are  probably  most  useful  when  kept  within  proper 
bounds  by  the  birds.  At  times  considerable  numbers  of  hymen- 
opterous  parasites  are  taken. 

It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  larger  numbers  of  these  useful 
insects  are  found  in  the  stomachs  of  Warblers  only  when  the  para- 
sites are  unduly  abundant.  A  surplus  of  these  insects  is  of  no 


30  FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 

benefit  and  must  always  die  without  issue,  even  if  they  arc  not 
eaten  by  birds. 

Birds  eat  not  only  the  useful  primary  parasites  but  the  injur- 
ious secondary  parasites  that  feed  on  primary  parasites.  Hence  it 
is  questionable  whether  birds  ever  do  much  harm  by  destroying 
parasitic  hymenoptera,  except  by  some  unlucky  accident.  What- 
ever injury  they  may  do  in  this  way  is  probably  offset  by  their 
destruction  of  injurious  ants.  Caddice  flies  and  May  flies  are  eaten 
by  Warblers. 

In  addition  to  the  insect  food,  some  spiders,  myriapods,  and 
snails  are  taken.  Spiders  are  useful  creatures,  but  if  one  will  go 
out  into  the  woods  and  fields  some  dewy  or  foggy  morning  in  fall 
and  observe  how  spiders'  webs  cover  the  fields,  how  they  drape 
the  trees,  and  net  the  shrubbery,  he  will  see  how  essential  it  is  that 
they  be  held  in  check  lest  a  spider-plague  overwhelm  the  land. 

Dr.  Judd  tells  us  that  he  found  that  ninety-six  per  cent,  of 
the  food  in  the  stomach  contents  of  fifty-three  Warblers  taken  on  a 
Maryland  farm,  consisted  of  insects,  and  that  the  arboreal  Warb- 
lers, other  than  the  Myrtle  Warbler  are  almost  purely  insectivor- 
ous. Still  some  Warblers  are  able  to  subsist  for  a  brief  time  on 
vegetable  food  mainly. 

Audubon  tells  us  that  in  May,  1808,  during  a  light  fall  of  snow 
in  Pennsylvania,  he  took  five  Chestnut-sided  Warblers  that  had 
eaten  nothing  but  grass  seeds  and  a  few  small  spiders.  Occasion- 
ally small  seeds  or  remains  of  wild  berries  are  found  in  the 
stomachs  of  Warblers,  more  particularly  those  of  the  ground-fre- 
quenting species ;  but  I  have  examined  the  digestive  tract  of  Warb- 
lers taken  in  the  height  of  the  berry  season  and  found  only  insects 
and  spiders.  The  Myrtle  Warbler,  that  hardy  little  bird  that  so 
often  winters  in  the  north,  eats  very  freely  of  the  fruits  of  the 
bayberry,  waxberry  or  myrtle,  and  cedar :  remains  of  grapes  are  some- 
times found  in  their  stomachs  and  small  seeds  are  not  disdained. 
The  Pine  Warbler  is  said  to  feed  on  the  seed  of  pine  trees  in 
winter,  and  I  have  seen  it  eat  suet  almost  as  freely  as  does  the  Chick- 
adee. 

On  the  whole,  however,  Dr.  Judd  rightly  regards  the  Warblers 
as  insectivorous,  and  the  value  to  man  of  those  species  that  nest 
in  or  near  an  orchard  or  shade  trees  is  not  likely  to  be  overesti- 
mated. 

The  enormous  number  of  insects  that  breeding  Warblers  nin<t 
secure  to  feed  their  young  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 


FOOD  OF  WARBLERS  ^i 

each  young  bird  requires  fully  half  its  own  weight  of  insects  each 
day.  As  the  young  are  fed  very  largely  on  caterpillars,  and  as 
they  are  reared  at  a  time  when  these  insects  are  most  plentiful 
there  is  no  doubt  regarding  the  restraining  influence  exerted  upon 
the  increase  of  such  insect  life  throughout  the  North  Temperate 
Zone  by  a  family  of  birds  so  abundant  and  widely  distributed  as  the 
Warblers.  The  usefulness  of  these  birds  in  migration  consists  in 
their  eminently  insectivorous  habits  and  in  the  power  possessed 
by  them,  in  common  with  most  other  birds,  of  assembling  quickly 
where  food  is  plentiful.  They  thus  form  a  sort  of  aerial  police 
whose  chief  function  is  to  put  down  uprisings  of  injurious  insects. 
Such  insects  are  of  little  importance  except  where  they  appear  in 
abnormal  numbers.  Wherever  this  occurs  a  counter-check  is 
needed,  at  once,  lest  by  the  geometrical  progression  of  their 
increase  they  overwhelm  all  opposition  and  sweep  everything 
before  them.  The  migrating  Warblers  form  such  a  counter-check. 
They  sweep  over  the  country  always  on  the  watch  for  an  abundant 
food  supply.  Wherever  food  is  plentiful  the  birds  gather.  Find 
a  great  swarm  of  young  caterpillars  or  birch  plant-lice  in  the 
spring  and  there  you  will  find,  in  their  seasons,  practically  all  the 
Warblers  that  pass  through  that  region. 

The  reduction  of  the  numbers  of  insects  by  migrating  Warb- 
lers may  be  illustrated  by  a  leaf  or  two  from  my  own  experience. 
In  the  spring  of  1903,  an  old  field  in  Concord,  Massachusetts, 
grown  up  to  birches,  was  much  infested  by  plant-lice.  Although 
the  spring  flight  of  Warblers  was  small,  these  birches  were  fre- 
quented by  them.  In  the  fall  migration  the  birch  field  was  again 
the  gathering  place  of  Warblers,  although  elsewhere  in  the  woods 
the  flight  of  birds  was  so  meagre  as  to  be  hardly  apparent.  In  1904 
the  aphids  were  somewhat  reduced  in  number,  but  the  birds  followed 
them  up,  as  in  the  previous  year,  until,  late  in  October,  most  of  the 
plant-lice  had  disappeared,  and  the  Myrtle  Warblers,  the  latest 
migrants,  leaving  the  birches,  attacked  other  plant-lice  on  the 
wild  apple  trees.  Since  then  comparatively  few  birch  plant-lice 
have  been  seen  in  the  field.  This  may  have  been  partly  due  to 
the  action  of  predaceous  insects,  parasites,  or  to  adverse  meteor- 
ological conditions,  but  the  effect  produced  by  the  birds  was  very 
marked. 

One  fine  Sunday  in  October,  1904,  I  saw  a  flock  of  Warblers 
about  a  few  poplar  trees  near  the  river.  They  were  feeding  on 
swarms  of  a  mature  aphis.  I  watched  them  at  intervals  all  day.. 


32  FOOD  OF  WARBLERS 

The  flock  seldom  exceeded  fifteen  birds,  mostly  Blackpoll  and 
Myrtle  Warblers.  Before  night  the  swarms  of  insects  that  had 
been  so  numerous  in  the  morning  had  dwindled  so  that  it  was 
rather  difficult  for  me  to  secure  a  specimen,  although  the  birds  still 
found  some.  When  I  went  there  the  next  morning  a  single  remain- 
ing bird  was  still  finding  a  few,  but  I  could  not  see  a  specimen 
nor  have  I  seen  one  there  since. 

In  1905  I  returned  to  my  home  at  Wareham,  Massachusetts, 
the  first  week  in  November,  and  found  a  flock  of  Myrtle  Warblers 
busily  hunting  over  the  limbs  and  twigs  of  some  apple  trees  and 
pear  trees  near  my  house.  From  the  actions  of  the  birds,  I  con- 
cluded that  they  had  discovered  an  outbreak  of  some  pest,  but  at 
first  I  could  see  nothing  on  the  twigs  that  they  were  inspecting. 
By  watching  them  with  the  glass,  however,  I  soon  saw  exactly 
where  they  were  finding  food.  Then  by  stepping  up  to  a  bird 
quickly  and  driving  it  away  before  it  could  seize  the  object  of  its 
quest,  I  saw  that  it  was  feeding  on  a  minute  cicada-shaped,  black 
insect.  This,  indeed,  was  the  only  species  of  living  insect  I  could 
find  on  those  trees.  Three  of  these  insects  were  secured,  and  two 
were  sent  to  Dr.  L.  O.  Howard,  chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Entomol- 
ogy at  Washington.  He  identified  them  as  the  imago  of  the  pear- 
tree  Psylla,  a  pest  which  has  been  very  destructive  to  pear  orchards 
in  Maryland  and  New  Jersey.  I  learned  that  the  birds  had  been 
visiting  these  trees  for  about  two  weeks.  At  the  time  of  my 
return  they  had  evidently  disposed  of  most  of  the  last  brood  of 
the  season,  for,  although  they  were  still  finding  a  good  many  on 
the  day  of  my  return,  they  found  very  few  afterwards  though  they 
visited  the  trees  daily  for  a  week  longer.  These  insects  hibernate 
on  the  trees  by  hiding  in  the  crevices  between  the  twigs  and  are 
thus  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  birds  all  winter.  The  above  brief 
and  imperfect  review  represents  fairly  well  our  knowledge  of  the 
economic  relations  of  American  Warblers.  Probably  we  shall 
never  have  an  authentic  and  scientifically  accurate  account  of  the 
percentages  of  the  component  parts  of  the  food  of  each  species, 
until  the  investigation  of  their  food  is  taken  up  by  the  Division 
of  Biological  Survey  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, where  the  greatest  study  of  the  food  of  birds  the  world  has 
ever  seen  is  now  being  made.  Enough  is  known,  however,  to  war- 
rant the  belief  that  our  Warblers  are  deserving  of  all  the  pro- 
tection man  can  afford  them. 


MORTALITY   AMONG  WARBLERS  33 

MORTALITY  AMONG  WARBLERS 

The  mortality  among  North  American  Warblers  is  doubtless 
higher  than  that  which  prevails  in  any  other  family  of  American 
birds.  Their  nest  mortality  is  probably  above  the  average  while 
a  variety  of  unfavorable  conditions  encountered  during  their 
exceptionally  extended  migrations,  often  cause  them  to  perish  by 
tens  of  thousands. 

A  discussion  of  the  comparative  safety  of  terrestrial  and 
arboreal  nesting-sites  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  the  'Nesting 
Habits  of  Warblers',  here  I  may  simply  enumerate  the  enemies  of 
Warblers  while  in  the  nest.  Chief  among  them  are  foxes,  skunks, 
weasels,  martens,  opossums,  squirrels,  cats,  snakes,  crows,  jays, 
and,  except  among  the  more  northern  species,  probably  most  fatal 
of  all,  the  Cowbird.  Cowbirds'  eggs  have  now  been  recorded  from 
the  nests  of  no  less  than  twenty-four  species  of  North  American 
Warblers.  These  species  are  included  in  the  appended  list  which 
is  based  in  the  main  on  Bendire  (Life  Histories  of  North  Ameri- 
can Birds)  :  Black  and  White  Warbler,  Prothonotary  Warbler, 
Worm-eating  Warbler,  Blue-winged  Warbler,  Golden-winged 
Warbler,  Nashville  Warbler,  Lucy's  Warbler,  Northern  Parula 
Warbler,  Yellow  Warbler,  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler,  Cerulean 
Warbler,  Blackburnian  Warbler,  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  Black- 
throated  Green  Warbler,  Golden-cheeked  Warbler,  Prairie  Warb- 
ler, Oven-bird,  Northern  Water-Thrush,  Louisiana  Water-Thrush, 
Kentucky  Warbler,  Northern  Yellow-throat,  Chat,  Hooded  Warb- 
ler, and  Redstart. 

The  Cowbird's  habit  of  selecting  as  a  host  a  bird  smaller  than 
itself  is  doubtless  responsible  for  this  long  list  of  victims.  The 
Warblers  may  build  cunningly  concealed  nests  upon  the  ground, 
they  may  place  them  in  the  densest  thickets,  or  in  trees  at  a  height 
of  over  eighty  feet,  it  is  apparently  all  one  to  this  bird,  which, 
never  having  had  a  home  of  its  own,  has  formed  no  attachment  for 
any  particular  site.  It  is  not  unusual  to  find  three  Cowbird's  eggs 
in  a  single  nest,  and,  in  one  instance,  four  are  recorded. 

Only  the  Yellow  Warbler  appears  habitually  to  avoid  incu- 
bating the  intruded  egg  by  building  a  second,  and,  should  occasion 
require,  a  third  story  to  its  home,  and  the  fact  that  with  other 
species  the  unfortunate  Warblers  devote  the  nesting  season  to  the 
care  of  their  foster  children  makes  this  form  of  persecution  far 
more  serious  than  the  loss  of  merely  eggs,  which  may  be  replaced 
by  a  second  or  third  laying. 


34 


MORTALITY   AMONG  WARBLERS 


During  the  nesting  season,  Warblers  sometimes  suffer,  as  do 
other  birds,  from  prolonged  wet  and  cold  weather  and  severe 
storms,  but  it  is  while  they  are  migrating  that  they  are  most 
exposed  to  danger  from  the  elements.  None  of  our  land  birds  are 
greater  travelers  than  the  Warblers.  Journeying  by  night  and 
crossing  large  bodies  of  water,  they  sometimes  encounter  storms 
with  which  they  are  ill-prepared  to  contend,  and  die  in  countless 
numbers.  From  a  large  amount  of  literature  on  this  subject  I 
extract  only  one  or  two  descriptions  of  catastrophes  of  this  nature. 

In  a  paper  entitled  'On  Some  Causes  Affecting  the  Decrease 
of  Birds'  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VI,  1881,  189),  H.  W.  Henshaw 
quotes  the  account  of  an  eye-witness  who  writes:  "Two  years  ago 
there  was  a  heavy  storm,  lasting  some  twenty-four  hours.  It 
occurred  during  the  first  week  in  September,  and  the  eastern  shore 
of  Lake  Michigan  was  strewn  with  dead  birds.  I  took  some  pains 
to  count  those  in  a  certain  number  of  yards,  and  estimated  that  if 
the  eastern  shore  was  alike  through  all  its  length,  over  half  a 
million  of  birds  were  lying  dead  on  that  side  of  the  lake  alone." 
Added  remarks  show  that  many  of  the  birds  were  Warblers. 

On  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  A.  M.  Frazar  (Ibid.,  p.  250)  chanced 
to  observe  one  of  doubtless  many  similar  occurrences,  which  he 
described  as  follows : 

"April  2,  1881,  found  me  in  a  small  schooner  on  the  passage 
from  Brazos  de  Santiago,  Texas,  to  Mobile,  Alabama.  At  about 
noon  of  that  day  the  wind  suddenly  changed  from  east  to  north, 
and  within  an  hour  it  was  blowing  a  gale ;  we  were  now  about 
thirty  miles  south  of  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi  River,  which 
would  bring  the  vessel  on  a  line  with  the  river  and  the  peninsula 
of  Yucatan.  Up  to  the  time  the  storm  commenced  the  only  land 
birds  seen  were  three  Yellow-rumped  Warblers  (Dendroica  coronata) 
that  came  aboard  the  day  previous,  keeping  us  company  the  most 
of  the  day;  but  within  an  hour  after  the  storm  broke  they  began 
to  appear,  and  in  a  very  short  time  birds  of  various  species  were 
to  be  seen  in  all  directions,  singly  and  in  small  flocks,  and  all  flying 
towards  the  Mississippi  River.  These  birds,  of  course,  must  have 
been  far  overhead  and  only  came  down  near  the  surface  of  the 
water  in  endeavoring  to  escape  from  the  force  of  the  wind.  By 
four  o'clock  it  had  come  to  be  a  serious  matter  with  them,  as  the 
gale  was  too  strong  for  them  to  make  scarcely  any  progress.  Af 
long  as  they  were  in  the  trough  of  the  sea  the  wind  had  very 


MORTALITY   AMONG  WARBLERS  35 

little  effect  on  them,  but  as  soon  as  they  reached  the  crest  of  a 
wave  it  would  catch  them  up  and  in  an  instant  they  were  blown 
hundreds  of  yards  back  or  else  into  the  water  and  drowned. 

"A  great  many  flew  on  to  the  deck  of  the  vessel  to  be  washed 
about  by  the  next  wave  that  came  over  the  side.  Although  I  made 
no  attempt  to  count  the  number  of  specimens  that  came  aboard,  I 
should  estimate  them  at  considerably  over  a  hundred,  and  a  great 
many  more  struck  the  sides  and  tumbled  back  into  the  water.  It 
was  sad  indeed  to  see  them  struggling  along  by  the  side  of  the 
vessel  in  trying  to  pass  ahead  of  her,  for  as  soon  as  they  were  clear 
of  the  bows,  they  were  invariably  blown  back  into  the  water  and 
drowned.  Most  of  those  that  came  aboard  were  washed  into  the 
sea  again,  but  the  next  day  we  found  about  a  dozen  dead  bodies 
that  had  lodged  underneath  the  galley.  The  following  is  a  list  of 
the  species  recognized,  and  if  more  time  could  have  been  given  to 
observation,  I  undoubtedly  could  have  made  out  others." 

Among  the  twenty-three  species  here  recorded  by  Mr.  Frazar, 
twelve  are  Warblers,  as  follows:  "Black  and  White  Creeper,  abun- 
dant ;  Prothonotary  Warbler,  large  numbers ;  Worm-eating  Warb- 
ler, large  numbers;  Yellow-rumped  [=Myrtle]  Warbler,  a  few; 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  quite  a  number;  Golden-crowned  Thrush 
[=Oven-bird],  a  few;  Kentucky  Warbler,  large  numbers;  Mourn- 
ing Warbler,  large  numbers;  Maryland  Yellow-throat,  very  abun- 
dant ;  Hooded  Warbler,  large  numbers ;  Yellow  Warbler,  quite  a 
number;  Redstart,  the  most  abundant." 

It  is,  however,  not  only  when  migrating  over  water  that  War- 
blers are  subject  to  death  by  severe  storms.  Writing  from  Rock- 
port,  Texas,  H.  P.  Atwater  says  (Auk,  IX,  1892,  303)  : 

"Thousands  of  Warblers  undoubtedly  perished  here  last  week 
during  the  'norther',  which  lasted  three  days  commencing  on 
March  16. 

"In  the  evening  of  that  day  flocks  of  Warblers  were  noticed 
around  the  gardens  and  houses  here,  and  the  next  day  many  were 
found  dead  or  were  caught  in  a  half-perished  condition.  About 
fifty  per  cent,  of  them  were  Black  and  White  Warblers.  (Mniotilta 
varia).  The  remainder  were  about  equally  divided  between  Parulas 
(Compsothlypis  americana)  and  Sycamore  Warblers  (Dcndroica 
dominica  albilora'}.  Many  Sycamore  Warblers  and  Parulas  were 
captured  alive  in  the  houses. 

"On  the  igth,  amongf  many  dead  Warblers  which  we're  brought 
to  us  were  a  specimen  of  the  Louisiana  \Yater-Tlirush  (Seiurus 


36  MORTALITY  AMONG  WARBLERS 

motacilla)  and  one  Hooded  Warbler  (Wilsonia  citrina).  Many  Yel- 
low-rumps were  in  company  with  the  rest,  and,  though  much  tamer 
than  usual,  none  were  found  dead  or  were  captured.  On  the  I9th  I 
made  a  trip  for  the  purpose  of  observation,  and  found  many  Black 
and  White  Warblers  and  Parulas  lying  dead  on  the  ground  at  the 
foot  of  live-oak  trees.  From  many  of  the  ranches  in  the  country 
round  here,  came  reports  of  similar  occurrences  and  many  dead 
birds  of  the  species  mentioned  have  been  sent  to  me." 

Without  giving  further  instances  of  similar  character,  men- 
tion may  be  made  of  large  numbers  of  migrating  Warblers  which 
annually  meet  their  death  by  striking  light-houses  or  light-towers. 
Serious  accidents  of  this  nature  occur  only  during  cloudy  or  foggy 
nights  when  the  birds,  losing  their  bearings,  descend  from  the 
height  at  which  they  have  been  migrating.  Apparently  fascinated 
by  the  far  reaching  rays  of  light,  they  fly  toward  their  source  and, 
striking  some  unilluminated  part  of  the  tower,  are  often  killed. 

Of  five  hundred  and  ninety-five  birds  which  were  killed  by 
striking  the  Fire  Island  Light,  Long  Island,  on  the  night  of  September 
23,  1887,  no  less  than  three  hundred  and  fifty-six  were  Blackpoll 
Warblers,  and  more  than  half  the  twenty  five  species  represented  were 
Warblers.  (Dutcher,  Auk,  V,  1888,  182). 

Nevertheless,  in  spite  of  this  unusual  mortality,  the  Warblers, 
as  a  family,  remain  our  most  abundant  birds,  an  exhaustless  food 
supply  and  widespread  favorable  nesting  areas  apparently  enabling 
them  to  hold  their  own  in  the  face  of  conditions  to  which  many 
forms  of  bird  life  would  succumb. 


THE 

WARBLERS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA 


In  treating  the  fifty-five  species  and  nineteen  subspecies  of  War- 
blers, which  have  been  found  north  of  Mexico,  I  have  followed  the 
order  of  arrangement  adopted  by  Mr.  Ridgway  in  his  'Birds  of  North 
and  Middle  America',  uniformity  of  method  being  in  my  estimation, 
of  more  importance  than  the  expression  of  individual  opinion.  In  the 
belief,  however,  that  in  the  work  just  mentioned,  Seiurus  was 
inadvertently  inserted  between  Oporornis  and  Geothlypis,  I  have 
here  placed  it  before  these  closely  related  genera. 

The  inclusion  in  this  book  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 
colored  figures  of  Warblers  is  thought  to  make  the  presentation  of  an 
analytical  key  to  species  superfluous.  The  appended  summary  of 
their  more  striking  generic  characters  and  habits  may,  however, 
prove  useful : 

SUMMARY  OF  GENERA 

1.  Mniotilta  (i  species)  is  a  black  and  white  creeping  Warbler. 

2.  Helinaia    (i    species)    is   a  long-billed,  brown,   cane-brake 
Warbler. 

3.  Helmitheros  (i  species)  is  an  olive-green,  striped-crowned, 
worm-eating  Warbler  of  dry  wooded  slopes. 

4.  Protonotaria  (i  species)  is  a  golden  headed  inhabitant  of 
river  bottoms. 

5.  Verwwvora  (8  species)  contains  small,  sharp-billed,  second 
growth  Warblers,  mostly  without  white  wing-bars  or  tail  patches. 

6.  Compsothlypis    (2    species)    is    grayish   blue    and    nests    in 
hanging  'moss'. 

7.  Peucedramus    (i    species)    is   an   orange   or   yellow-headed 
inhabitant  of  high  pine  forests  in  southern  Arizona  and  southward. 

8.  Dendroica     (23    species)     contains    the    Wood    Warblers, 
brightly  colored,  fluttering  birds,  with  conspicuous  white  or  yellow 


38  BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 

patches  in  the  tail,  usually  wing-bars  and  more  or  less  striking 
patterns  of  color;  short,  rounded  cylindrical  bill  without  evident 
bristles. 

9.    Seiurus    (3    species)    has    the    large,    thrush-like,    spotted- 
breasted,  ground-inhabiting,  walking  Warblers. 

10.  Oporornis   (4  species)    has  the  ground  or  bush-inhabiting, 
pale-footed,   gray-headed,   blackish   or   brownish   breasted   Warblers. 

11.  Geothlypis    (2    species)    has    the    black-masked    bush    and 
thicket  haunting  Warblers. 

12.  Chamathlypis   (i   species)    is  a  chat-like   Yellow-throat  of 
southeastern  Texas  and  southward. 

13.  Icteria    (i    species)    is    a    large-bodied,    big-billed,    short- 
winged,  yellow-breasted  haunter  of  thickets. 

14.  Wilsonia  (3  species)  contains  the  yellow-breasted,  flycatch- 
ing  Warblers,  with  flat  bills  and  long  rictal  bristles. 

15.  Cardellina    (i    species)    is  a  short-billed,    red-faced,   gray- 
backed,  flycatching  Warbler  of  southern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona 
and  southward. 

1 6.  Setophaga  (2  species)  has  the  broad-billed,  black,  and  red 
or  orange  flycatching  Warblers. 


Genus  MNIOTILTA  Vieiliot 

The  genus  Mniotilta  contains  but  a  single  species  which  is  distin- 
guished among  the  Warblers  for  its  creeper-like  habits.  As  might  be 
expected,  so  marked  a  trait  is  reflected  in  the  bird's  form,  the  bill 
being  proportionately  long,  slender,  and  slightly  decurved,  with  the 
upper  mandible  usually  notched  at  the  tip  and  projecting  over  the 
lower.  The  hind-toe,  in  comparison  with  the  middle-toe,  is  longer 
and  has  a  stouter  nail  than  in  any  of  our  other  Warblers.  The  rictal 
bristles  are  very  small,  the  tail  is  nearly  square  and,  compared  with 
the  wing,  is  rather  short.  The  wing  is  long  and  pointed,  the  three 
outer  primaries  being  of  nearly  equal  length.  In  color  both  sexes 
are  black  and  white,  the  male  being  the  blacker,  the  female,  espe- 
cially in  the  fall,  showing  a  brownish  wash. 

BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 

MNIOTILTA  VARIA  (Linn.)    Plate  II 

Distinguishing  Characters.— A  striped  black  and  white,  creeping  bird. 
Length  (skin).  470;  wing,  2.70;  tail,  2.00:  bill.  .50. 


PLATE  II 


1.  BLACKPOLL  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE.  4.   BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER,  MALE. 

3.   BLACKPOLL  WARBLER,  YOUNG  AND  ADULT  IN   FALL. 

2.  BLACKPOLL  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE.  5.  BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER,  FEMALE 


BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER  39 

Adult  c5  Spring. — Crown  black,  a  white  stripe  through  its  center  and  over 
each  eye ;  cheeks  entirely  or  largely  black ;  back  black  striped  with  white ; 
upper  tail-coverts  black,  their  outer  webs  margined  with  white;  tail  blackish, 
externally  margined  with  gray,  usually  all  but  the  central  pair  of  feathers  with 
white  patches  or  margins  on  the  inner  web  at  the  tip ;  wings  blackish,  externally 
edged  with  grayish,  tertiaries  and  coverts  black,  the  first  margined,  the  latter 
broadly  tipped  with  white  forming  two  wing-bars;  throat  black  usually  with 
more  or  less  white  and  with  white  stripes  at  either  side  from  the  base  of  the 
bill;  breast  and  sides  streaked  black  and  white,  center  of  the  belly  white. 

Adult  <$  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <£  in  Spring,  but  with  more  white  on  the 
breast  and  throat,  the  latter  sometimes  wholly  white. 

Young  c£  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  6*  Fall,  but  with  cheeks  entirely  or  largely 
white  with  a  black  postocular  streak;  the  throat  and  center  of  the  breast  white, 
the  black  streaks  of  the  underparts  being  confined  to  the  sides  and  under 
tail-coverts. 

Adult  °.  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  above  less  glossy  and 
more  or  less  washed  with  brownish,  particularly  on  the  rump;  the  cheeks 
grayish  or  whitish  with  a  brownish  tinge  sometimes  extending  to  the  sides  of 
the  throat  and  breast;  below  white,  the  streakings  duskier,  less  sharply  denned 
and  confined  to  the  sides  and  crissum,  which,  with  the  flanks,  is  usually  strongly 
washed  with  brownish.  Resembles  young  £  but  is  less  distinctly  streaked  below 
and  shows  brownish  tinge. 

Adult  9  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring,  but  the  brownish  wash  every- 
where stronger. 

Young  $  Fall. — Not  distinguishable  from  adult  $  in  Fall. 

Nestling. — Resembles  young  $  but  black  duller,  brown  stronger  and  more 
prevalent,  especially  on  the  breast. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America,  north  to  New- 
foundland and  the  Mackenzie  Valley,  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  commonly  as  far  south  as  to  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Iowa;  less  commonly  to  North  Carolina, 
Missouri,  and  Kansas;  locally  and  rarely  in  the  Gulf  States;  west 
regularly  to  central  Texas,  central  Kansas,  and  central  South  Dakota : 
north  to  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland,  Hudson  Bay, 
and  Mackenzie  (Fort  Norman)  ;  casually  to  Lesser  Slave  Lake  and 
Peace  River  Landing,  Athabasca ;  occurs  westwa.rd  casually  in  Colo- 
rado (Boulder,  Table  Rock,)  and  in  California  (Farallonc  Islands, 
May  28,  1887 ;  Pasadena,  October  8,  1895 ;  Arroyo  Seco,  Los  Angeles 
Co.,  October  2,  1895 ;  Point  Lobos,  Monterey  Co.,  Sept.  9,  1901 ; 
Watsonville,  Sept.  24,  1903)  ;  Washington  (Olympia,  Sept.  8,  1903). 

Winter  Range. — Northern  Florida  (St.  Augustine),  and 
southern  Texas ;  south  throughout  the  West  Indies  to  Venezuela  and 
Ecuador. 


40 


BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 


Spring  Migration. — A  few  Black  and  White  Warblers  winter  in 
southern  Florida,  so  that  the  only  way  of  knowing  the  beginnings 
of  spring  migration  in  that  district  is  from  the  records  of  the  striking 
of  the  birds  at  the  lighthouses.  Both  at  Alligator  Reef  and  at  Som- 
brero Key  lighthouses  in  southern  Florida,  this  species  begins  to 
strike  early  in  March.  Thence,  northward  the  progress  is  so  slow — 
an  average  of  twenty  miles  per  day — that  it  is  the  middle  of  May 
before  the  species  has  reached  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Northern  Florida  

4 

March   16 

March  13,  1885 

Atlanta,  Ga.  (near)   
Frogmore,  S    C    (near) 

9 

4 

April  2 
April  3 

March  21,  1899 
March  29,  1887 

Raleigh,  N.  C.  (near) 

16 

March  27 

March  19,  1894 

Asheville,  N.  C.  (near) 

5 

April    3 

March  28,  1891 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  

5 

April  13 

April    6,  1892 

Washington,  D   C 

6 

April  ii 

April    7,  1905 

Beaver,   Pa  

6 

April  22 

April  15,  1891 

Renovo,  Pa  

9 

April  28 

April  20,  1899 

Germantown,    Pa  

7 

April  27 

April  20,  1889 

Englewood,  N.  J  

9 

April  26 

April  23,  1902 

Southeastern  New  York  

18 

April  28 

April  22,  1896 

Central    Connecticut 

15 

April  28 

April  20,  1896 

Eastern    Massachusetts   

15 

April  28 

April  20,  1896 

Providence,  R.  I  

6 

May      5 

May      i,  1897 

Southern  New  Hampshire     ... 

8 

May      i 

April  27,  1899 

Southern  Maine   

9 

May      3 

April  27,  1897 

Montreal,  Can 

8 

May      9 

May      3,  1890 

Quebec,  Can  

7 

May     12 

May    10,  1895 

St.  John,  N   B 

8 

May     14 

May      9,  1895 

North   River,    Prince   Edward    Isl. 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans,  La  

3 
3 

May     17 
March  27 

May     13,  1889 
March  19,  1905 

Helena,  Ark 

7 

March  31 

March  21,  1897 

Eubank,  Ky  

10 

April    4 

April     i,  1888 

Brookville    Ind 

April    3,  1882 

Waterloo,   Ind 

10 

May      2 

April  27,  1902 

Oberlin,   Ohio    

9 

April  27 

April  22,  1899 

Detroit,  Mich 

14 

May      I 

April  24    1904 

Petersburg,   Mich  

13 

April  28 

April  23,  1896 

Listowel    Ont 

12 

May      i 

April  26    1896 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont 

6 

May      4 

April  30,  1899 

Ottawa,  Ont  

18 

May      7 

April  28,  1905 

Southeastern   Iowa 

5 

April  19 

Chicago     111     

ii 

April  30 

April  23,  1899 

Southern  Wisconsin   

10 

May      2 

April  28,  1897 

Lanesboro     Minn 

5 

April  28 

April  23,  1888 

Elk  River,  Minn    

5 

May      3 

May      i,  1886 

Aweme    Manitoba 

7 

May      0 

April  30    1901 

Fort  McMurry,  Athabasca   
Fort  Chippewyan,  Athabasca  
Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  

3 

May    25 

May    15,  1901 
May    26,  1893 
May    23,  1904 

BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 


Fall  Migration— The  Black  and  White  Warbler  is  one  of  the 
earliest  fall  migrants ;  it  begins  to  appear  in  the  Gulf  States  early 
in  July,  and  reaches  southern  Florida  by  the  middle  of  the  month. 
South  of  the  United  States  it  has  been  noted  in  southern  Mexico 
August  13,  1895;  in  Costa  Rica  August  10,  1883;  and  in  Colombia, 
South  America,  August  21,  1898. 


PIvACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Island. 
St.  John,  N.  B  

2 

3 

September    4 
September  12 

September    5,  1887 
September  19,  1891 

September  19 

September  28    1898 

Southeastern  New  York 

September  24 

October  15    1891 

Central  New  Jersey 

4 

September  24 

October  12    1894 

Germantown,  Pa    ...       .    . 

6 

October  i 

October  12    1885 

Great  Falls,  Montana  

September  18    1889 

Ottawa,   Ont  

September  13 

September  20    1887 

Southern  Michigan   

September  13 

September  15    1892 

Chicago,  111  

7 

September  22 

September  27    1896 

Grinnell,  Iowa  

September  22 

September  23    1889 

Raleigh,  N.  C  

October  8 

November    10   1885 

New  Orleans,  La.  (near)    

October  21    1897 

Rodney,  Miss  

October    3,  1888 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Black  and  White  Warbler  may 
be  said  to  be  generally  distributed  throughout  deciduous  woodlands. 
When  migrating  it  visits  the  trees  of  our  lawns  and  orchards  but 
the  nature  of  its  nesting  site  requires  less  cultivated  surroundings. 
But  wherever  seen  it  may  be  known  by  striped  markings  and  creep- 
ing habits.  Though  it  may  at  times  borrow  the  manners  of  what  may 
be  called  the  fluttering  Warblers,  they  rarely  adopt  its  characteristic 
method  of  running  actively  up  tree-trunks,  over  and  under  limbs 
with  all  the  agility  of  a  true  Creeper  (Certhia)  or  Nuthatch.  The 
Pine  Warbler  clings  to  the  bark  of  trees,  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler 
climbs  to  some  extent  among  the  upper  branches  but  in  its  mode  of 
progression  none  rivals  the  Black  and  White  Warbler. 

When  flushed  from  the  nest,  the  female,  with  tremulous  wings 
trails  painfully  over  the  dead  leaves  in  an  evident  effort  to  lead  the 
intruder  from  her  home  and  its  contents. 

"The  Black  and  White  Warbler  is  a  bird  of  deciduous  and  mixed 
growth,  rarely  found  in  the  dense  spruce  forests,  and  more  commonly 
in  scrubby  second  growth  than  in  the  big  primeval  timber.  Not  com- 
mon on  the  higher  parts  of  Mt.  Monadnock,  even  where, —  as  on  the 
eastern  slopes, —  the  woods  are  suitable.  Fairly  common  in  summer 
and  abundant  in  migrations  everywhere  about  the  mountain's  base." 
(Thayer,  MS.) 


42  BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 

"At  Berwyn,  Pa.,  the  Black  and  White  Warbler  inhabits  timbered 
upland,  the  rocky  wooded  hillsides  and  down  to  the  damp  swampy 
thickets  whenever  there  are  sufficient  undergrowths  of  laurel,  saplings, 
etc.  It  is  at  all  times  a  woodland  bird. 

"I  have  frequently  seen  the  male  and  the  female  carrying  white 
grubs  and  white  moths  to  their  young;  and  feed  a  big  lubberly  Cow- 
bird,  out  of  the  nest,  as  late  as  June  27.  Another  time,  a  female 
fed  a  young  Cowbird,  at  large,  with  green  grubs  taken  from  the 
leaves  of  the  chestnut  and  oak  sapling.  Three  times  in  as  many 
minutes  she  dropped  morsels  down  its  gluttonous  throat,  all  the 
while  exhibiting  the  most  jealous  care,  guarding  it  from  harm.  It 
was  well  able  to  fly."  (Burns,  MS.) 

Song. — The  Black  and  White  Warbler  is  not  a  vociferous  singer 
and  its  high  screening  notes,  to  which  the  terms  thin  and  wiry  are 
commonly  applied,  might  readily  escape  the  notice  of  a  person  not 
listening  for  birds'  voices.  The  sharp  pit  alarm  note  is  rapidly  and 
loudly  repeated  when  the  birds  fear  for  the  safety  of  their  young. 

"The  ordinary  call-note  of  the  species,  both  in  fall  and  spring, 
resembles  the  syllable  dzt;  it  often  uttered  rapidly,  thus:  dzi-dzt-dzt- 
dzt,  while  the  bird  is  creeping  about  the  trunks  and  large  limbs  of 
trees.  The  usual  song — not  uttered  in  fall,  I  think — is  monotonous, 
consisting  of  a  single  lisping  syllable  repeated  rather  rapidly,  five  or 
six  times.  A  much  rarer  song  I  have  heard  in  spring  when  much 
migrational  activity  was  being  shown;  this  is  much  more  elaborate, 
and  longer  than  the  other.  I  heard  it  once  in  Amite  County  in  July ; 
when  the  singer  may  have  been  a  breeding  bird"  (Allison,  MS.) 

"This  Warbler  has  at  least  two  main  songs,  both  penetrating 
and  perfectly  smooth-toned,  as  well  as  thin  and  wiry.  The  one  com- 
monly described  consists  of  about  eight  like-toned  notes,  in  barely- 
separated  couplets,  with  a  slight  emphasis  on  the  second  note  of  each 
couplet :  Ssee-unvce-ssee-wwee-ssee-wvcec-ssce-WTvee, — uttered  neither 
fast  nor  slowly.  This  song  seems  to  be  comparatively  little  subject 
to  variation,  though  by  no  means  free  from  it.  The  other,  longer  and 
less  common  song  begins  in  the  same  way,  but  continues,  after  the 
six  or  eight  ordinary  notes,  with  two  or  three  somewhat  hurried  repe- 
titions of  the  phrase,  all  in  a  slightly  richer  and  more  liquid  tone,  and 
one  or  two  on  a  slightly  lower  key.  Thin  and  slight  though  it  is,  this 
complete  song  has  something  of  a  rollicking  sound,  and  ranks  very 
high  among  weak-voiced  Warbler  songs.  The  Black  and  White's 
common  call-note,  small  and  rather  sharp,  is  pretty  easily  recogniz- 


SWAINSON'S  WARBLER  43 

able,  but  it  is  often  reduplicated  into  a  'chippering'  very  much  like  the 
Black-throated  Green's."     (Thayer,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — A  depression  in  the  ground  at  the  base  of  a  tree, 
bush,  \veeds,  stump,  rocks,  etc.,  beneath  fallen  limbs,  upturned  roots, 


Nest. — Bulky,  composed  of  dead  leaves,  strips  of  grape-vine  or 
cedar  bark,  or  soft  inner  bark  of  other  trees,  grasses  and  rootlets  and 
lined  with  hairs;  sometimes  more  or  less  roofed. 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  usually  5.  Ground  color  of  creamy  white  to 
white,  heavily  and  profusely  spotted  and  specked  with  reddish  brown, 
chestnut,  hazel  and  lavender,  tending  to  form  a  wreath  around  large 
end,  but  quite  evenly  marked  all  over.  Many  types  approach  those 
of  the  Canada  and  Lutescent  Warblers,  some  few  specimens  exhibit 
small  blotches.  The  shape  is  a  rounded  oval,  less  pointed  than  the 
majority  of  our  Warblers'  eggs.  Size;  average,  .66x.53 ;  extremes, 
72X.52,  .62x^2,  .69X.55,  .64x48.  (Figs.  3-5.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Iredell  Co.,  N.  C,  April  18  (/.  P.  N.  )  ;  West 
Chester,  Pa.,  June  2,  young  on  wing  (Jackson)  ;  New  York  City, 
May  18  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  2O-June  4,  three  eggs,, 
two  young  (Bishop)  ;  Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets  of  first  laying,  May 
18-30  (Brewster)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  May  27-June  21  (Knight)  ;  Listo- 
well,  Ont,  May  23- June  10  (Kelts). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  J.  P.  N.  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Black  and  White  Warblerr 
Orn.  and  O61.,  XIII,  1888,  183.  (2)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  some  Canadian 
Warblers,  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XV,  1902,  229. 

Genus  HELINAIA   Swainson 

Helinaia  bears  a  strong  general  resemblance,  both  in  form  and 
color,  to  Helmitheros,  the  bill,  however,  is  longer  (nearly  equalling 
the  head  in  length),  and  much  straighter,  the  arc  of  the  culmen  is 
not  convex,  its  ridge  is  more  developed  and  sharper,  and  parts  the 
feathers  of  the  forehead  more  deeply;  the  wing  is  slightly  more 
rounded,  the  tail-feathers  are  broader,  the  under  tail-coverts  reach  to 
within  half  an  inch,  or  less,  of  the  the  end  of  the  tail,  the  tarsus  is 
slightly  longer  than  the  middle-toe  and  nail. 

In  Helinaia  swainsoni,  the  single  species  contained  in  this  genus, 
the  sexes  are  alike  in  color. 


44  SWAINSON'S  WARBLER 

SWAINSON'S  WARBLER 

HELINAIA  SWAINSONI   Aud.    Pl.te  IV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — A  brownish  bird  without  white  in  wings  or 
tail;  sexes  alike.  Length  (skin),  5.00;  wing,  2.80;  tail,  1.95;  bill,  .60. 

Adult  <?,  Spring. — Crown  cinnamon-brown,  forehead  with  a  more  or  less 
indistinct  buffy  median  streak;  a  whitish  line  over  the  eye  and  a  dusky  streak 
through  it;  back  olive-brown;  tail  the  same  without  white  patches;  wings, 
like  back,  without  white  bars  or  edgings;  underparts  whitish  more  or  less  tinged 
with  yellowish,  the 'sides  grayer;  bill  brownish,  legs  flesh-color. 

Adult  <£  Fall. — Not  seen;  doubtless  not  materially  different  from  the  last. 

Young  c?,  Fall. — Doubtless  similar  to  adult  <$  in  Fall. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  o"  in  Spring. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Not  seen,  doubtless  resembles  Spring  $. 

Young  $,  Fall.— Similar  to  ?  in  Spring. 

Nestling. — Above  cinnamon-brown,  paler  below,  the  belly  whitish. 
General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States ;  north  to  Virginia 
and  Indiana ;  west  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

Summer  Range. — This  is  one  of  the  rarer  Warblers  of  the  United 
States ;  its  breeding  range  on  the  Atlantic  coast  extends  from  northern 
Florida  (the  lower  Suwanee  River)  to  Virginia  (Dismal  Swamp). 
It  is  strictly  a  swamp  lover  and  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  Louisiana,  it 
is  not  uncommon  in  the  few  localities  that  seem  suited  to  its  habits. 
Thence  it  ranges  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  southeastern  Missouri, 
and  up  the  Wabash  to  Knox  county,  Indiana.  Accidental  twice  in 
Texas  (Navarro  county,  August  24,  1880;  Port  Bolivar,  April  17, 
1904)  and  once  in  Mexico  (Vera  Cruz,  winter,  1887-88). 

Winter  Range. — So  far  as  known,  Jamaica,  where  it  has  been 
taken  from  October  i  to  April  8. 

Spring  Migration. — The  earliest  recorded  spring  arrival  in  the 
United  States  was  on  March  22,  1890  on  the  lower  Suwanee  River. 
The  same  year  the  species  was  taken  at  the  Tortugas,  March  25  to 
April  5.  The  other  records  of  the  first  arrival  in  spring  are:  Som- 
brero Key  lighthouse  April  3,  1889;  Savannah,  Ga.,  April  8-16, 
1894;  Kirkwood,  Ga.,  May  4,  1898;  Frogmore,  S.  C,  April  1-5, 
1885;  New  Orleans,  La.,  April  8,  1898;  April  i,  1904;  March  30, 
1905;  Bayou  Sara,  La.,  April  8,  1887;  Coosada,  Ala.,  April  12,  1878. 
Fall  Migration. — This  begins  rather  late  when  compared  with 
the  date  of  nesting.  Fledged  young  have  been  seen  near  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  by  June  9,  but  the  earliest  date  of  striking  at  Sombrero  light- 
house is  August  17,  1888 ;  other  dates  at  this  lighthouse  extend  from 
September  14,  1884,  to  October  26,  1885,  and  at  Key  West,  Fla.,  from 
the  middle  of  September  to  September  20. 


Figs.  3-5.   Black  and  White  Warbler. 
"     6.      7.   Prothonotary  Warbler. 
"     8.  Swainson's  Warbler. 

"  9-11.  Worm-eating  Warbler. 
!'  12-14.  Blue-winged  Warbler. 
H  15-17.  Golden-winged  Warbler. 


Figs.  18-20.  Lucy's  Warbler. 
"  21.  22.  Virginia's  Warbler. 
"  23-25.  Nashville  Warbler. 
"  26-28.  Lutescent  Warbler. 
"  29.  30.  Tennessee  Warbler. 
H  31.  32.  Parula  Warbler. 


SWAINSON'S  WARBLER  45 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Swainson's  Warbler  has  an  interest- 
ing history.  Discovered  by  Bachman  near  Charleston,  S.  C,  in  1832, 
the  bird  remained  virtually  unknown  until  1878.  In  the  intervening 
years,  it  is  true,  four  additional  specimens  had  been  taken  (see 
Brewster2)  but  nothing  was  published  concerning  its  habits  until 
Brown1  observed  it  in  Alabama,  on  April  12  of  the  last-named  year: 
During  the  six  following  years  the  species  was  detected  in  Texas,  and 
again  near  Charleston,  but  it  was  not  until  1884  that,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Bachman's  and  Brown's  observations,  we  had  any  information 
of  this  bird  in  nature.  In  that  year  through  the  definitely  directed 
efforts  of  Brewster2  and  Wayne3  it  proved  to  be  a  locally  common 
species  near  Charleston,  as  it  has  since  been  found  to  be  in  many  other 
places,  and  it  is  from  Brewster's  account  of  his  field  work  in  the  spring 
of  the  year  mentioned  that  the  following  extracts  are  made: 

"While  the  facts  already  given  prove  incontestably  that  the 
present  species  may  occur  at  times  in  dry,  scrubby,  woods,  or  even  in 
such  open  situations  as  orange  groves,  it  certainly  haunts  by  prefer- 
ence the  ranker  growth  of  swamps,  to  which,  indeed,  it  appears  to  be 
confined  during  the  nesting  season.  *  *  *  The  particular  kind 
of  swamp  to  which  he  is  most  partial  is  known  in  local  parlance  as 
a  'pineland  gall.'  It  is  usually  a  depression  in  the  otherwise  level  sur- 
face, down  which  winds  a  brook,  in  places  flowing  swiftly  between 
well-defined  banks,  in  others  divided  into  several  sluggish  channels,  or 
spreading  about  in  stagnant  pools,  margined  by  a  dense  growth  of  cane, 
and  covered  with  lily  leaves  or  other  aquatic  vegetation.  Its  course 
through  the  open  pinelands  is  sharply  marked  by  a  belt  of  hardwood 
trees  nourished  to  grand  proportions  by  rich  soil  and  abundant  mois- 
ture. *  *  *  More  extensive  swamps,  especially  those  bordering 
the  larger  streams,  are  subject  to  inundations,  which,  bringing  down 
deposits  of  alluvial  soil,  bury  up  or  sweep  away  the  humbler  plants, 
leaving  a  floor  of  unsightly  mud,  interspersed  with  pools  of  stagnant 
water.  Such  places  answer  well  enough  for  the  Prothonotary  and 
Hooded  Warblers,  which,  although  essentially  swamp-lovers,  are  not 
to  any  extent  terrestrial;  but  you  are  not  likely  to  find  Swainson's 
Warbler  in  them,  unless  about  the  outskirts,  or  in  islands  elevated 
above  the  reach  of  the  floods.  Briefly,  four  things  seem  indispensable 
to  its  existence,  viz.,  water,  tangled  thickets,  patches  of  cane,  and  a 
rank  growth  of  semi-aquatic  plants.  *  *  * 

"When  not  singing  Swainson's  Warbler  is  a  silent,  retiring  bird, 
spending  nearly  his  entire  time  on  the  ground  in  the  darkest  recesses 
of  his  favorite  swamps,  rambling  about  over  the  decaying  leaves  or 


40  SWAINSON'S  WARBLER 

among  the  rank  water-plants  in  search  of  small  beetles  which  consti- 
tute his  principal  food.  His  gait  is  distinctly  a  walk,  his  motions 
gliding  and  graceful.  Upon  alighting  in  the  branches,  after  being 
flushed  from  the  ground,  he  assumes  a  statuesque  attitude,  like  that 
of  a  startled  Thrush.  While  singing  he  takes  an  easier  posture,  but 
rarely  moves  on  his  perch.  If  desirous  of  changing  his  position,  he 
riies  from  branch  to  branch,  instead  of  hopping  through  the  twigs 
in  the  manner  of  most  Warblers.  *  *  * 

"Judging  by  my  personal  experience,  Swainson's  Warbler  is  at 
all  times  a  singularly  unsuspicious  bird." 

In  Mississippi,  Allison  (MS.)  writes  that  Swainson's  War- 
bler is  "Everywhere  a  bird  of  the  cane-brakes — not  the  heavy  river- 
swamp  brakes  of  Arundinaria  gigantea,  but  the  thick  patches  of  A. 
tecta.  These  are  found  in  the  borders  of  the  deep  river  swamps, 
and  in  the  low,  rich,  parts  of  somewhat  less  swampy  woods.  This 
Warbler,  like  the  Worm-eating,  is  constantly  rustling  among  the 
leaves ;  but  it  is  nearly  always  on  the  ground  that  it  seeks  its  food, 
among  the  fallen  leaves  at  the  roots  of  the  trees." 

Song. — "A  bird  emerged  from  a  thicket  within  a  few  yards  of 
me,  where  he  had  been  industriously  searching  among  the  fallen 
leaves,  flew  into  a  small  sapling,  and  gave  utterance  to  a  loud,  ring- 
ing and  very  beautiful  song.  *  *  *  I  was  impressed  by  the 
absorbed  manner  in  which  this  bird  sings.  Sitting  quietly  upon  a 
limb  of  a  small  tree,  he  suddenly  throws  back  his  head  and  pours 
forth  his  notes  with  utmost  fervor  and  abandon.  During  the  intervals 
of  silence  he  remains  motionless,  with  plumage  ruffled,  as  if  com- 
pletely lost  in  musical  reverie."  (Brown1.) 

"A  performance  so  remarkable  that  it  can  scarcely  fail  to  attract 
the  dullest  ear,  while  it  is  not  likely  to  be  soon  forgotten.  It  consists 
of  a  series  of  clear,  ringing  whistles,  the  first  four  uttered  rather 
slowly  and  in  the  same  key,  the  remaining  five  or  six  given  more 
rapidly,  and  in  an  evenly  descending  scale,  like  those  of  the  Canon 
Wren  (Catherpcs  mexicanus  conspersus.  In  general  effect  it  recalls 
the  song  of  the  Water-Thrush  (Seiurus  noveboracensis.)  It  is  very 
loud,  very  rich,  very  beautiful,  while  it  has  an  indescribably  tender 
quality  that  thrills  the  senses  after  the  sound  has  ceased. 

"It  is  ventriloquial  to  such  a  degree  that  there  is  often  great 
difficulty  in  tracing  it  to  its  source.  *  *  *  In  addition  to  its  song 
this  Warbler  utters  a  soft  tchip  indistinguishable  from  that  of  Panda 
amcricana,  but  wholly  unlike  the  cry  of  any  ground  Warbler  of  my 
acquaintance.  I  heard  this  note  on  only  one  occasion,  when  the  bird 


SWAIN  SON'S  WARBLER  47 

was  excited  over  some  disturbance  in  the  shrubbery,  perhaps  the 
presence  of  a  snake. 

"Although  a  rarely  fervent  and  ecstatic  songster,  our  little  friend 
is  also  a  fitful  and  uncertain  one.  You  may  wait  for  hours  near  his 
retreat  even  in  early  morning  or  late  afternoon,  without  hearing  a 
note.  But  when  the  inspiration  comes  he  floods  the  woods  with 
music,  one  song  often  following  another  so  quickly  that  there  is 
scarce  a  pause  for  breath  between.  In  this  manner  I  have  known 
him  sing  for  fully  twenty  minutes,  although  ordinarily  me  entire 
performance  occupies  less  than  half  that  time.  Such  outbursts  may 
occur  at  almost  any  hour,  even  at  noontide,  and  I  have  heard  them 
in  the  gloomiest  of  weather,  when  the  woods  were  shrouded  in  mist 
and  rain."  (Brewster.-} 

Nesting  Site. — "The  nests  are  generally  built  in  canes,  but  I 
have  also  found  them  in  small  bushes,  and,  in  one  instance,  in  a  climb- 
ing vine  by  the  side  of  a  large  public  road.  The  height  from  the 
ground  varies  from  two  to  eight  feet,  but  they  are  always  near  or 
over  a  pond  of  water."  (Wayne.*) 

Perry4,6  has  found  nests  in  scrub  palmettos,  myrtle,  and  gall 
bushes  not  always  over  nor  even  near  running  water,  but  as  often  on 
high,  dry  land. 

Nest. — "The  nest  is  a  remarkable  affair — very  large,  made  of 
water-soaked  leaves  of  the  sweet  gum,  water  oak,  holly  and  cane, 
lined  with  needles  of  the  pine  trees  and  a  little  dry  moss.  The  stems 
of  the  leaves  point  upwards,  and  the  nest  can  easily  be  mistaken  for 
a  bunch  of  old  leaves  lodged  in  the  top  of  a  cane."  (Wayne.3} 

Eggs- — 3  or  4'  verv  rarely  4.  Ground  color  white,  creamy  white 
and  bluish  white,  unmarked,  little  or  no  gloss;  in  shape  very  blunted 
at  small  end.  Size;  average,  -7SX.59;  extremes,  79X.57,  .  72x^9, 
77X.6T,  -75x.se.  (Fig.  8.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Charleston,  S.  C,  May  7- July  6  (Wayne.} 

BIOGRAPHICAL   REF7,RF.\TCF.s 

(i)  N.  C.  BRO\YN.  A  List  of  Birds  Observed  in  Central  Alabama.  Bull. 
Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  III.  1878,  172.  (2)  WILLIAM  BREWSTER.  Swainson's  Warbler 
[in  So.  Car.],  Auk.  II,  1885,  65.  (3)  A.  T.  WAYNE.  Nesting  of  Swainson's 
Warbler  in  South  Carolina,  Orn.  and  O61..  XI,  1886,  187.  (4)  T.  D.  PERRY, 
Nesting  of  Swainson's  Warbler  [near  Savannah,  Ga.],  Orn.  and  061.,  XI,  1886, 
188.  (5)  C.  W.  BECKHAM,  Additions  to  the  Avifauna  of  Bayou  Sara,  La.,  Auk, 
IV.  1887,  305.  (6)  T.  D.  PERRY,  Some  Additional  Notes  on  Swainson's  Warb- 
ler, Orn.  and  O6L,  XII,  1887,  141.  (7)  J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of 
Swainson's  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIII,  1888,  185. 


48  WORM-EATING   WARBLER 

Genus   HELMITHEROS   Rafinesque 

Heltnitheros  is  chiefly  distinguished  by  its  stout  bill,  which,  in 
proportion  to  the  size  of  the  bird,  is  more  robust  than  in  any  other 
genus  of  this  family,  except  Chamcethlypis;  the  ridge  of  the  culmen 
is  curved,  its  base  is  decidedly  ridged  and  intrudes  upon  the  feathers 
of  the  forehead ;  the  bill  is  unnotched ;  rictal  bristles  not  evident. 
The  wing  is  rather  pointed,  about  .80  inches  longer  than  the  tail;  the 
three  outer  primaries  are  of  nearly  equal  length;  the  tail  is  rather 
short,  the  feathers  of  about  equal  length,  obtusely,  but  decidedly 
pointed ;  the  under  tail-coverts  are  long,  reaching  to  within  nearly  .50 
inches  of  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  feet  are  well  developed,  the  tarsus 
about  equalling  in  length  the  middle-toe  and  nail. 

In  Heltnitheros  vermivorus,  the  single  species  contained  in  this 
genus,  the  sexes  are  alike  in  color. 

WORM-EATING  WARBLER 

HELMITHEROS  VERMIVORUS   (Gmel.)    Plite  IV 

Distinguishing  Characters— Head  conspicuously  striped  with  black  and 
olive-buff;  no  white  bars  or  patches;  sexes  alike.  Length  (skin),  4.80;  wing, 
2.80;  tail,  I. ox);  bill,  .50. 

Adult  d",  Spring. — Crown  with  a  broad  median  olive-buff  stripe  separated 
from  stripes  over  the  eyes,  of  the  same  color,  by  broad  stripes  of  black;  a 
well-marked  black  or  blackish  post -ocular  stripe,  lores  sometimes  dusky;  back, 
olive-green;  tail  olive-green  without  white;  wings  like  back,  without  white, 
the  bend  yellowish;  underparts  cream-buff,  belly,  and  sometimes  throat,  whiter. 

Adult  <J,  Fall. — Similar  to  last  but  buffy  areas  averaging  slightly  deeper. 

Young  c?,  Fall.— Similar  to  Adult  c?  in  Fall,  but  tertials  lightly  tipped  with 
rusty. 

Adult,  $,  Spring.— Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring. 

Adult  9,  Fall— Similar  to  adult  3  in  Fall. 

Young  °.,  Fall, — Similar  to  young  <?. 

Nestling. — Buffy-cinnamon ;  head  stripes  duskier,  wing-quills  as  in  young 
c?  and  $,  wing-coverts  like  back,  their  bases  grayer. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  southern 
M*w  England  and  Nebraska;  west  almost  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — Common  in  the  heavily  timbered  bottom  lands 
of  Southern  Illinois  and  Indiana  and  eastward  to  the  lower  portions 
of  the  valleys  of  the  Hudson  and  Connecticut  rivers.  It  is  not  uncom- 
mon in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  from  north- 
western South  Carolina  to  southern  New  York,  and  from  the  Dismal 
Swamp  of  Virginia  northward.  Outside  of  this  usual  range  it  has 
been  taken  in  Vermont  (St.  Albans,  1891),  Massachusetts  (East- 
hampton,  Cambridge,  September  19,  1881,  Taunton,  May  9,  1890)  ; 


WORM-EATING   WARBLER 


49 


New  York,  (Penn  Yan,  Onondago)  ;  Northern  Ohio  (Cleveland, 
May  2,  1873);  southern  Michigan;  southern  Wisconsin  (Racine, 
Milwaukee,  Lake  Koshkonong)  ;  central  Iowa  (Des  Moines,  Grinnell, 
May  15,  1886) ;  southeastern  Nebraska  (Omaha,  Lincoln)  ;  eastern 
Kansas  (Lawrence,  May  6,  1873;  Atchinson,  May  31,  1899). 

The  species  nests  rarely  south  of  the  latitude  of  southern 
Virginia,  except  in  the  mountains,  but  has  been  recorded  as  breeding 
at  Raleigh,  N.  C. ;  La  Grange,  Ala.;  Rodney,  Miss.,  and  northern 
Louisiana.  It  occurs  in  migration  throughout  the  Gulf  States  to 
eastern  Texas. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Florida  and  eastern  Mexico  to  Pan- 
ama; Cuba  and  the  Bahamas. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PIvACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Northern  Florida 

5 

April    9 

April    4,  1892 

Raleigh,  N   C 

IO 

April  24 

April  19,  1887 

Asheville,  N.  C.  (near)   

4 

April  21 

April  19,  1893 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  W  Va... 
French  Creek   W   Va 

3 
3 

April  28 
April  28 

April  27,  1890 
April  25,  1898 

Washington,  D   C 

6 

May      2 

April  29,  1888 

Beaver,  Pa  

3 

May      4 

April  29,  1902 

Southeastern  New  York  .  .       ... 

7 

May      7 

May      3,  1886 

South   Central   Connecticut    

3 

May    ii 

May     10,  1894 

Mississippi  Valley— 
Houston    Tex 

April    6   1881 

New  Orleans   La 

April    9 

April    6   1902 

St   Louis    Mo 

April  29 

April  26    1882 

Brookville,  Ind 

7 

April  23 

April  17    1896 

Columbus   O 

April  18    1900 

Fall  Migration. — The  earliest  fall  migrant  was  recorded  at  Key 
West,  Fla.,  August  30;  the  average  date  at  which  they  first  strike 
the  Florida  lighthouses  is  September  14.  Migration  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi  is  at  about  the  same  time,  earliest  August  n.  The 
latest  migrants  are  noted  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  September  2 ;  near  New 
Orleans,  La.,  September  30;  Key  West,  Fla.,  about  October  i. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Worm-eating  Warbler  appears 
to  be  a  locally  common  bird  from  southern  Pennsylvania  southward, 
but  is  rather  uncommon  from  this  point  northward.  In  a  degree  it  is 
a  connecting  link  between  the  terrestrial  and  arboreal  Warblers,  and 
feeds  both  upon  the  ground  and  in  the  trees.  In  color,  voice,  and 
actions  it  is  far  too  inconspicuous  to  force  itself  on  our  attention  and 
its  presence  is  usually  detected  only  by  the  watchful. 


5o  WORM-EATING   WARBLER 

F.  L.  Burns8  reports  it  as  common,  but  extremely  local,  at 
Berwyn,  Pa.,  where  it  inhabits  the  wooded  hill-slopes.  "I  do  not 
remember,"  he  says,  "having  ever  met  with  it  in  the  open,  or  in  small 
groves  of  the  bottom  lands.  It  is  at  home  in  the  second  growth  timber 
of  the  hills,  and  is  very  deliberate  in  its  movements,  seeming  never 
in  a  hurry  and  yet  never  idle.  Stepping  out  with  dainty  tread  and 
bobbing  head,  it  is  a  really  graceful  little  walker  on  ground  or  tree. 

"The  bird  exhibits  a  remarkable  love  for  its  chosen  nesting  haunts, 
building  the  second  and  third  nest  within  a  radius  of  a  few  hundred 
feet  when  disturbed,  and  returning  year  after  year  to  the  same  place 
if  successful  in  raising  a  brood.  I  have  not  observed  a  single  pair 
building  on  the  exact  site  of  former  years,  but  on  several  occasions 
within  a  few  feet  of  it.  While  the  female  takes  the  leading  part,  the 
male  is  always  present  and  seems  busy,  a  by  no  means  silent  partner 
in  the  selection  of  site  and  construction  of  nest.  *  *  * 

"Incubation  does  not  always  commence  immediately  after  com- 
pletion of  set,  particularly  if  the  season  be  young.  It  is  probable  that 
the  second  night  witnesses  the  beginning  of  that  period  and,  as  far 
as  my  experience  goes,  I  believe  it  is  performed  by  the  female  alone. 
The  male  feeds  her  when  covering  newly  hatched  young.  The  home- 
coming of  a  brooding  bird,  after  a  brief  airing  and  feeding,  is 
heralded  several  hundred  yards  distant  by  frequent  chips  and  short 
flights  from  branch  to  branch  near  the  ground,  in  leisurely  fashion 
and  circuitous  route,  until  at  length,  arriving  above  the  nest,  she  runs 
down  a  sapling  and  is  silent.  The  bird  is  a  close  sitter  and  if 
approached  from  the  open  front  will  often  allow  a  few  minutes'  silent 
inspection,  eye  to  eye,  at  arm's  length,  sometimes  not  vacating  until 
touched,  then  she  runs  off  in  a  sinuous  trail,  not  always  feigning 
lameness  before  the  young  are  out.  When  disturbed  with  young  in 
the  nest  she  flutters  off  with  open  wings  and  tail,  and  failing  to  lead 
one  off,  will  return  with  her  mate,  who  is  seldom  far  off  at  this 
period,  circling  about  the  nest  or  intruder,  and,  if  the  young  are  well 
feathered,  she  will  dash  at  them,  forcing  them  from  the  nest  and  to 
shelter.  Once  this  brave  little  bird  dashed  at  me  and  ran  up  to  my 
knee,  scratching  with  her  sharp  little  claws  at  every  step.  On  the 
return  the  birds  always  make  the  vicinity  ring  with  their  protests — 
a  quickly  repeated  chip.  The  period  of  incubation  In  one  instance 
was  thirteen  days." 

William  Brewster  presents  this  picture  of  the  bird  in  its  haunts 
in  West  Virginia,  where,  he  says,  the  bird  is  "most  partial  to  the 


PLATE  III 


1.  BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALI 

2.  BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


3.  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

4.  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


WORM-EATING   WARBLER  51 

retired  thickets  in  the  woods  along  water  courses,  and  seldom  or 
never  found  in  the  high  open  groves.  They  keep  much  on  the  ground, 
where  they  walk  about  rather  slowly,  searching  for  their  food  among 
the  dried  leaves.  In  general  appearance  they  are  quite  unique,  and  i 
rarely  failed  to  identify  one  with  an  instant's  glance,  so  very  peculiar 
are  all  their  attitudes  and  motions. 

"The  tail  is  habitually  carried  at  an  elevation  considerably  above 
the  line  of  the  back,  which  gives  them  quite  a  smart,  jaunty  air,  and 
if  the  dorsal  aspect  be  exposed  in  a  clear  light,  the  peculiar  marking 
of  the  crown  is  quite  conspicuous.  Seen  as  they  usually  are,  however, 
dimly  flitting  ahead  through  the  gloom  and  shadow  of  the  thickets, 
the  impression  received  is  that  of  a  dark  little  bird  which  vanishes 
unaccountably  before  your  very  eyes,  leaving  you  quite  uncertain 
where  to  look  for  it  next;  indeed,  I  hardly  know  a  more  difficult 
bird  to  procure,  for  the  slightest  noise  sends  it  darting  off  through 
the  woods  at  once.  Occasionally  you  will  come  upon  one  winding 
around  the  trunk  of  some  small  tree,  exactly  in  the  manner  of 
Mniotilta  varia,  moving  out  along  the  branches  with  nimble  motion, 
peering  alternately  under  the  bark  on  either  side,  and  anon  returning 
to  the  main  stem,  perhaps  in  the  next  instant  to  hop  back  to  the 
ground  again.  On  such  occasions  they  rarely  ascend  to  the  height 
of  more  than  eight  or  ten  feet.  The  males  are  very  quarrelsome, 
chasing  one  another  through  the  woods  with  loud,  sharp  chirpings, 
careering  with  almost  inconceivable  velocity  up  among  the  tops  of  the 
highest  oaks,  or  darting  among  the  thickets  with  interminable  doub- 
lings, until  the  pursuer,  growing  tired  of  the  chase,  alights  on  some 
low  twig  or  old  mossy  log,  and  in  token  of  his  victory,  utters  a 
warble  so  feeble  that  you  must  be  very  near  to  catch  it  at  all,  a 
sound  like  that  produced  by  striking  two  pebbles  very  quickly  and 
gently  together,  or  the  song  of  Spizella  sociaJis  heard  at  a  distance, 
and  altogether  a  very  indifferent  performance."  (Brewster*.} 

Song. — The  resemblance  of  the  Worm-eater's  song  to  that  of 
the  Chipping  Sparrow  is  so  great  that  few  describers  of  it  fail  to  com- 
ment on  the  similarity. 

Mr.  W.  DeW.  Miller  of  Plainsfield,  New  Jersey,  tells  me  that  he 
has  on  two  occasions  heard  a  flight  song  from  this  species.  It  is 
described  by  him  as  much  more  varied  and  musical  than  the  ordinary 
song,  though  lacking  in  strength.  It  was  given  as  the  bird  flew 
through  the  woods  at  an  even  level,  not  rising  above  the  tree-tops, 
<is  does  tK°  Ovrn-h?"d  ?'-'!  other  fli°"lit  ?infrer<;. 


52  WORM-EATING   WARBLER 

This  is  probably  the  song  referred  to  by  Jones  in  the  following 
quotation:  "Mr.  Burns  describes  a  song  that  resembles  that  of  a 
Goldfinch;  chat-ah-che-che-chee-chee-chee,  which  seems  to  correspond 
well  with  a  passion  song  in  the  manner  of  utterance." 

"Commonly  remains  in  song  after  its  arrival  until  the  second 
week  in  July.  Sometimes  singing  ceases  a  little  earlier  than  this; 
again,  in  other  years,  songs  are  to  be  heard  until  the  third  week  of 
the  month. 

"The  second  song-period  of  this  Warbler  I  can  speak  of  only 
from  one  season's  experience.  On  July  10,  1881,  several  of  these 
birds  were  silently  inhabiting  a  small  tract  of  woodland,  their  first 
season  of  song  having  passed ;  here  on  August  14,  and  again  on  the 
2ist,  they  were  found  in  fine  plumage  and  in  full  song. 

"The  songs  of  no  three  birds  known  to  me  are  more  alike  than 
those  of  the  Worm-eating  Warbler,  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  and  the 
Slate-colored  ]unco."(Bicknell.8) 

"Call-note  a  sharp  dzt  like  that  of  Swainson's  Warbler,  or  the 
Black  and  White  Warbler;  it  is  uttered  at  all  times  and  seasons. 
The  song  is  a  perfectly  monotonous  trill;  it  is  uttered  during  spring 
migration  during  momentary  pauses  in  the  active  creeping  of  the 
bird — never  in  flight.  I  have  seen  a  bird  perch  for  some  time  upon 
an  exposed  dead  limb,  uttering  the  song  at  short  intervals,  and  mean- 
while sitting  quite  still.  This  was  on  April  26,  in  Tishomingo  county 
—almost  too  soon  for  the  bird  to  have  had  a  nest.  I  have  heard  no 
song  in  the  fall."  (Allison,  MS.) 

"I  can  distinguish  no  difference  between  the  notes  of  this  species 
and  those  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow;  the  first  may  be  a  trifle  weaker, 
perhaps.  The  series  of  notes  may  be  uttered  while  perched,  or 
creeping  about  the  lower  branches  of  the  trees,  sapling  tops,  bushes, 
or  fallen  brush,  or  while  on  the  ground.  With  slightly  drooping  tail 
and  wings,  puffing  out  of  body  plumage,  throwing  its  head  back  until 
the  beak  is  perpendicular,  it  trills  with  swelling  throat  an  unvarying 
Che — e-e-e-e-e-e,  which  does  not  sound  half  so  monotonous  in  the 
woods  as  does  the  Chippy's  lay  in  the  open.  The  first  song  period 
is  from  the  time  of  arrival  until  June  24  to  July  5,  but  during  the  last 
two  weeks,  when  housekeeping  is  a  thing  of  the  past  and  the  hot  days 
have  come,  it  is  seldom  heard  except  in  the  early  morning,  beginning 
about  four  o'clock,  and  in  the  cool  of  the  evening.  The  second  song 
period  is  very  brief  and  follows  the  molt.  I  have  no  dates." 
(Burns,  MS.) 


53 

Nesting  Site. — "It  always  nests  on  the  ground,  generally  on  a 
steep  hillside  in  the  woods.  A  stream  of  water  or  a  swamp  seem  to 
be  a  desirable  condition."  (Jackson.3') 

Ladd4  states  that  the  nest  is  placed  at  the  foot  of  either  a  sapling 
or  small  bush,  not  necessarily  on  a  hillside  but  sometimes  on  level 
ground  in  open  places  with  little  shade. 

Nest. — "The  nest  is  invariably  lined  with  the  red  flower  stalks 
of  the  hair  moss  (Polytrichium)."  (Jackson.3)  Ladd  confirms  this 
habit  and  adds:  "Sometimes  fine  grass  and  horse-hair  are  used  as 
part  of  the  lining."  The  body  or  outside  of  the  nests  is  composed  of 
leaves  only.  Nests  taken  by  J.  N.  Clark  at  Saybrook,  Connecticut 
(C.  W .  C.)  are  composed  of  decayed  leaves  and  lined  with  stems  of 
maple  seeds. 

Eggs. — 3  to  6,  usually  4  or  5.  Ground  color  white  with  a  wide 
variation  in  markings  from  sparingly  to  profusely  marked  with  spots, 
specks,  and  blotches  of  chestnut,  lavender,  light  and  dark  reddish, 
with  a  tendency  to  form  wreaths  around  the  larger  end,  but  in  most 
cases  a  nearly  evenly  marked  egg.  In  shape  some  are  rounded  oval 
and  others  much  pointed.  Size;  average,  .6o.x.53;  extremes,  7SX.58, 
.64x48.  (Figs.  9-11.) 

Nesting  Dates.—  Iredell  County  N.  C.,  May  10  (/.  P.  N.)  ;  West 
Chester,  Pa.,  May  26- June  15  (Jackson)  ;  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May 
i6-June  ii  (Jacobs);  New  York  City,  May  20  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  May  25-June  19  (Bishop). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  R.  RIDGWAY,  Field  and  Forest,  i,  1875,  10.  (2)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Obser- 
vations on  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County,  West  Virginia,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist., 
N.  Y.,  XI,  1875,  134.  (3)  T.  H.  JACKSON,  Nesting  of  the  Worm-eating  Warbler 
[in  S.  E.  Pa.],  Orn.  and  O61.,  XI,  1886,  156.  (4)  S.  B.  LADD,  Nesting  of  the 
Worm-eating  Warbler  [in  S.  E.  Pa.],  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  no;  (5)  A 
Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Worm-eating  Warbler,  Ibid,  149.  (6)  F.  L.  BURNS,  The 
Worm-eating  Warbler  [in  Penn.],  Bird-Lore,  VII,  1905,  137.  (7)  J.  P. 
N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Worm-eating  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XV, 
1800,  118.  (8)  E.  P.  BICKNELL,  A  Study  of  the  Singing  of  our  Birds,  Auk,  I, 
1884,  210. 

Genus   PROTONOTARIA   Baird 

ProtO'Wtaria  citrea,  the  single  species  contained  in  this  genus, 
has  the  bill  long,  stout,  aculeate,  the  upper  mandible  nearly  straight 
but  somewhat  decurved  at  the  slightly  notched  tip,  the  ridge  of 
culmen  is  pronounced  and  slightly  parts  the  feathers  of  the  forehead, 


54  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 

the  rictal  bristles  are  barely  evident.  The  wing  is  rather  broad,  not 
especially  pointed,  the  tail  is  short,  square,  or  even  somewhat  rounded, 
the  outer  feather  being  slightly  the  shortest;  the  under  tail-coverts 
are  long,  reaching  to  within  half  an  inch,  or  less,  of  the  end  of  the 
tail ;  the  hind-toe  is  shorter  but  stouter  than  the  middle  toe. 

In  color  the  sexes  closely  resemble  each  other,  the  male  having 
the  head  brighter. 

PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 

PROTONOTARIA  CITREA   (Bodd.)     Plate  III 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  prevailing  orange-yellow  color,  grayish 
wings  and  absence  of  wing-bars  will  always  distinguish  this  species.  Length 
(skin),  4.90;  wing,  2.85;  tail,  1.85;  bill,  .55- 

Adult  d,  Spring. — Whole  head  orange-yellow ;  back  yellowish  green ;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts  gray;  tail  margined  with  gray,  all  but  the  central  pair 
of  featheis  white  on  the  inner  web  except  at  the  tip,  which  is  black;  wings 
black,  externally  margined  with  gray,  lesser  coverts  like  the  back,  greater  cov- 
erts tinged  with  same,  first  primary  covert  blackish  margined  with  whitish, 
bend  of  wing  yellow;  below  orange-yellow  changing  to  white  on  the  crissum; 
bill  black. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring,  but  hind-head  always  washed 
with  dusky;  bill  brownish. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d"  in  Fall  but  white  on  inner  webs  of 
tail-feathers  more  restricted  and  more  or  less  mottled  with  blackish;  first 
primary  covert  grayer. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Resembles  adult  <£  but  crown  duller,  greenish  yellow  or 
orange,  back  the  same  changing  to  gray  on  the  rump ;  tail  with  less  white,  the 
black  areas  duller;  below  averaging  paler  than  the  adult  and  with  more  white 
on  the  lower  belly. 

Adult  ?,  Fall.— Resembles  adult  $  in  Spring. 

Young  9,  Fall.— Resembles  adult  $  in  Fall. 

Nestling.— Above  dusky  olive-green  varying  markedly  to  brown ;  below 
dusky  grayish  tinged  with  yellow  or  brown  on  the  breast  and  sides,  whiter 
on  the  belly. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States,  north  to  Virginia 
and  Minnesota,  west  nearly  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  Prothonotary  Warbler  is  pre-eminently  a 
bird  of  damp  woods  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  water,  and,  in 
general  terms,  it  can  be  said  that  its  principal  summer  home  is  the 
bottom  lands  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries  to  an  altitude 
of  one  thousand  feet;  north  to  northwestern  Ohio  (St.  Mary's  Reser- 
voir), northeastern  Indiana  (Steuben  County),  southern  Ontario 
(Hamilton),  southeastern  Michigan  (Lansing),  central  Wisconsin 
(Shiocton),  southeastern  Minnesota  (Hastings);  west  to  central 


PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER  55 

Iowa  (Des  Moines),  eastern  Nebraska  (Omaha,  Lincoln  and  West 
Point),  central  Kansas  (Manhattan  and  Neosho  Falls),  Oklahoma 
City  and  Kiowa  Agency),  and  eastern  Texas  (Gainesville  and 
Austin). 

Along  the  Atlantic  slope,  near  the  coast,  the  species  is  common 
north  to  the  Dismal  Swamp  of  Virginia,  and  rare  locally,  thence  to 
western  Delaware  (Choptank  River).  It  breeds  south  to  northern 
Florida.  It  has  occurred  accidentally  in  Pennsylvania  (Arcola,  May 
15,  1887;  near  Philadelphia,  May  1879;  Allegheny  County,  May  17, 
1892 ;  Chester  County,  May ;  Lancaster  County)  ;  New  Jersey, 
(Haddonneld)  ;  New  York  (Montauk  Point,  L.  I.,  August  26,  1886; 
Jamaica,  May  1849;  Yonkers,  June  2,  1895);  Rhode  Island,  (South 
Kingston,  April  20,  1884;  Lonsdale,  April  29,  1892  and  April  19, 
1893);  Massachusetts  (South  Abington;  Northampton,  May  1883; 
Concord,  May  9,  1886,  August  17  and  23,  1886;  Auburndale,  June 
19,  1890;  Hyde  Park,  May  21,  1892;  Mattapan  Station  September  15, 
1894)  ;  New  Brunswick  (St.  Stephens,  October  30,  1862),  and  Arizona 
(Tucson,  May  i,  1884). 

Winter  Range. — Nicaragua  to  Venezuela;  rarely  north  to- 
Yucatan. 

Spring  Migration:  Atlantic  Coast. — The  earliest  record  in  the 
United  States  for  this  species  is  Sombrero  Key  Light,  Florida,  March, 
n,  1888;  the  average  date  of  arrival  in  northern  Florida  is  the  first 
week  in  April,  the  earliest,  being  Suwanee  River,  March  22,  1890,. 
and  Perdido  Lighthouse,  March  22,  1885.  At  Charleston,  S.  C,  eight 
struck  the  light  April  8,  1902.  At  Cumberland,  Ga.,  the  earliest 
record  is  April  10,  1902;  on  April  15,  1902  this  was  the  most  com- 
mon among  the  birds  that  swarmed  about  the  light;  it  was  again 
abundant  the  next  night.  The  average  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  is  April  18. 

Mississippi  Valley. — At  New  Orleans,  La.,  the  earliest  record  is 
March  13,  1888,  the  average  being  March  18.  Additional  records 
are:  Central  Mississippi,  average  April  6,  earliest  April  3,  1889; 
Lomita,  Texas,  March  26,  1880;  Matagorda  Island,  Texas,  March 
31,  1900;  Dallas,  Texas,  April  8,  1898,  April  6,  1899;  Manhattan, 
Kansas,  April  25,  1891,  April  26,  1894,  April  26,  1895;  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  April  18,  1884,  April  20,  1885 ;  Wabash  County,  Illinois,  April 
19.  1878 ;  Knox  County,  Indiana,  April  18,  1881 ;  Vigo  County, 
Indiana,  April  10,  1896;  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  April  27,  1891, 
and  Shiocton,  Wis.,  May  4,  1882. 

Fall  Migration. — The  earliest  records  of  fall  migration  are  at 
Raleigh,  N.  C.,  July  14,  1893  and  l894>  and  at  Key  West>  Fla"  J"1? 


56  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 

28,  1888,  and  August  8,  1889.  The  earliest  records  south  of  the 
United  States  are  on  the  coast  of  southeastern  Nicaragua,  September 
2,  1892,  and  in  northern  Colombia,  South  America,  September  25. 
The  latest  date  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  is  August  26,  and  at  Omaha,  Nebr., 
August  25  to  September  10.  The  latest  Florida  record  is  of  a  bird 
that  struck  the  light  at  Sombrero  Key,  September  25,  1888,  and  the 
latest  from  New  Orleans  is  September  24,  1893.  The  only  fall  record 
for  the  West  Indies  is  of  one  taken  at  New  Providence,  Bahamas, 
August  28,  1898. 

The  route  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler  in  its  fall  .migration  is 
interesting;  the  breeding  bird?  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  States  appar- 
ently pass  southwest  to  northwestern  Florida  and  then  take  a 
seven-hundred-mile  flight  directly  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to 
southern  Yucatan,  instead  of  crossing  to  Cuba  and  thence  to  Yucatan. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  charm  of  its  haunts  and  the 
beauty  of  its  plumage  combine  to  render  the  Prothonotary  Warbler 
among  the  most  attractive  members  of  this  family.  I  clearly  recall 
my  own  first  meeting  with  it  in  the  Suwanee  River  region  of  Florida. 
Quietly  paddling  my  canoe  along  one  of  the  many  enchanting,  and, 
I  was  then  quite  willing  to  believe,  enchanted  streams  which  flowed 
through  the  forests  into  the  main  river,  this  glowing  bit  of  bird-life 
gleamed  like  a  torch  in  the  night.  No  neck-straining  examination 
with  opera-glass  pointed  to  the  tree-tops,  was  required  to  determine 
his  identity,  as,  flitting  from  bush  to  bush  along  the  river's  bank,  his 
golden  plumes  were  displayed  as  though  for  my  special  benefit. 

If  all  our  Warblers  had  received  the  attention  which  the  Pro- 
thonotary's  attractions  have  won  for  him,  the  preparation  of  this 
volume  would  have  been  a  much  easier  and  more  satisfactory  task. 
Space,  indeed,  prohibits  adequate  quotations  from  the  monographs 
of  which  this  bird  has  been  the  subject,  and  for  more  detailed  infor- 
mation than  can  here  well  be  presented,  the  student  is  referred  to  the 
papers  cited  beyond.  From  the  one  by  William  Brewster1,  the  follow- 
ing admirable  pen  picture  of  the  Prothonotary  and  its  haunts  is 
extracted : 

In  the  heavily  timbered  bottoms  of  the  Wabash  and  White 
Rivers,  Brewster  writes,  two  things  were  found  to  be  essential  to  the 
Prothonotary's  presence,  "namely,  an  abundance  of  willows  and  the 
immediate  proximity  of  water.  Thickets  of  button  bushes  did  indeed 
satisfy  a  few  scattered  and  perhaps  not  over  particular  individuals 
and  pairs,  but  away  from  water  they  never  were  seen.  So  marked 


PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 


57 


was  this  preference,  that  the  song  of  the  male  heard  from  the  woods 
indicated  to  us  as  surely  the  proximity  of  some  river,  pond,  or  flooded 
swamp,  as  did  the  croaking  of  frogs  or  peeping  of  hylas. 

"In  general  activity  and  restlessness  few  birds  equal  the  species 
under  consideration.  Not  a  nook  or  corner  of  his  domain  but  is 
repeatedly  visited  through  the  day.  Now  he  sings  a  few  times  from 
the  top  of  some  tall  willow  that  leans  out  over  the  stream,  sitting 
motionless  among  the  yellowish  foliage,  fully  aware,  perhaps,  of 
the  protection  afforded  by  its  harmonizing  tints.  The  next  moment 
he  descends  to  the  cool  shades  beneath,  where  dark,  coffee-colored 
water,  the  over-flow  of  pond  or  river,  stretches  back  among  the 
trees.  *  *  * 

"This  Warbler  usually  seeks  its  food  low  down  among  thickets, 
moss-grown  logs,  or  floating  debris,  and  always  about  the  water. 
Sometimes  it  ascends  tree-trunks  for  a  little  way  like  the  Black  and 
White  Creeper  [=Warbler],  winding  about  with  the  same  peculiar 
motion.  When  seen  among  the  upper  branches,  where  it  often  goes 
to  preen  its  feathers  and  sing  in  the  warm  sunshine,  it  almost  invari- 
ably sits  nearly  motionless.  Its  flight  is  much  like  that  of  the  Water- 
Thrush  (either  species)  and  is  remarkably  swift,  firm,  and  decided. 
When  crossing  a  broad  stream  it  is  slightly  undulating,  though  always 
direct." 

Of  the  Prothonotary  farther  south  in  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
Allison  (MS.}  writes: 

"The  typical  haunt  is  low,  flat,  woodland,  preferably  with  some 
standing  water;  this  is  usually  a  river  bottom,  though  a  'bay-gall/ 
or  low  swamp  among  pine-lands,  wooded  with  white  bay,  black-gum, 
etc.,  often  answers  the  purpose.  In  Louisiana,  a  piece  of  ground 
recently  deposited  by  the  Mississippi  River,  and  covered  with  a  thick 
growth  of  willows,  is  attractive  to  this  Warbler.  It  joins  less  than 
many  other  species  with  the  roving  bands  of  migrant  Warblers  in 
the  upland  woods." 

Song. — "The  usual  song  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler  sounds 
at  a  distance  like  the  call  of  the  Solitary  Sandpiper  with  a  syllable 
or  two  added, — a  simple  peet,  tweet,  tweet,  tweet,  given  on  the  same 
key  throughout.  Often  when  the  notes  came  from  the  farther  shore 
of  a  river  or  pond  we  were  completely  deceived.  On  more  than  one 
occasion,  when  a  good  opportunity  for  comparison  was  offered  by 
the  actual  presence  of  both  birds  at  the  same  time,  we  found  that 
at  the  distance  of  several  hundred  yards  their  notes  were  absolutely 
indistinguishable ;  nearer  at  hand,  however,  the  resemblance  is  lost, 


58  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 

and  a  ringing  penetrating  quality  becomes  apparent  in  the  Warbler's 
song.  It  now  sounds  like  peet,  tsweet,  tsweet,  tsweet,  or  sometimes 
tweet,  tr-swect,  tr-sweet,  tr-siveet.  When  the  bird  sings  within  a  few 
yards  the  sound  is  almost  startling  in  its  intensity,  and  the  listener 
feels  inclined  to  stop  his  ears.  The  male  is  a  fitful  singer,  and  is 
quite  as  apt  to  be  heard  in  the  hot  noontide  or  on  cloudy  days,  when 
other  birds  are  silent,  as  during  the  cool  morning  and  evening  hours. 
The  ordinary  note  of  alarm  or  distress  is  a  sharp  one,  so  nearly  like 
that  of  the  Large-billed  Water-Thrush  (Seiunis  motacilla)  that  the 
slight  difference  can  only  be  detected  by  a  critical  ear.  When  the 
sexes  meet  a  soft  tchip  of  recognition  common  to  nearly  all  the  War- 
blers is  used.  In  addition  to  the  song  above  described  the  male  has 
a  different  and  far  sweeter  one,  which  is  reserved  for  select  occasions, 
an  outpouring  of  the  bird's  most  tender  feelings,  intended  for  the 
ears  of  his  mate  alone,  like  the  rare  evening  warble  of  the  Oven-bird 
(Seiurus  aurocapillus).  It  is  apparently  uttered  only  while  on  the 
wing.  Although  so  low  and  feeble  as  to  be  inaudible  many  rods 
away,  it  is  very  sweet,  resembling  somewhat  the  song  of  the  Canary 
given  in  an  undertone,  with  trills  or  'water  notes'  interspersed.  The 
flight  during  its  delivery  is  very  different  from  that  at  all  other  times. 
The  bird  progresses  slowly,  with  a  trembling,  fluttering  motion,  its 
head  raised  and  tail  expanded.  This  song  was  heard  most  frequently 
after  incubation  had  begun."  (Brewster1.) 

Nesting  Site. — Brewster1  writes  that  to  give  an  account  of  all 
the  situations  in  which  he  has  found  nests  of  this  species  "would 
entail  a  description  of  nearly  every  conceivable  kind  of  hole  or  cavity 
that  can  be  found  in  tree-trunks.  The  typical  nesting-site,  however, 
was  the  deserted  hole  of  the  Downy  Woodpecker  or  Carolina  Chickadee. 
The  height  varied  from  two  to  fifteen  feet,  though  the  usual  eleva- 
tion was  about  four."  Barnes's2  observations  agree  with  Brewster's 
but  he  adds  that,  rarely,  nests  are  found  as  high  as  twenty-five  feet. 
Both  writers  state  that  the  height  of  the  nest  and  its  distance  from  the 
water  depend  upon  the  fall  in  the  water  after  the  site  has  been 
selected. 

A  wide,  and  apparently  not  infrequent  departure  from  the  type 
of  nesting-site  just  described  is  the  vicinity  of  houses  (Ganicr>)  and, 
in  one  instance,  a  railroad  bridge  (Roberts*) when,  bluebird-like,  the 
bird  accepts  nest-boxes  or  similar  situations. 

Nest. — The  nest  is  constructed  by  the  female.  The  male  accom- 
panies her  on  her  search  for  material  and  rarely  brings  a  small  bill 


NEST   OF    PARULA    WARBLER. 

The  arrow  indicates  the  location  of  the  nest.    The  bird  may  be  seen  at  the  left  of  nest. 
Photographed  by  FRANK  M.  CHAPMAN,  at  Gardiner's  Island,  N.  Y. 


NESTING  STUMP  OF  PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER. 

The  arrow  indicates  the  nest  entrance. 
Photographed  by  THOMAS  S.  ROBERTS,  at  Red  Wing,  Minn. 


PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 


59 


full  but  leaves  it  "on  the  outside  of  the  hole  for  her  to  carry  in  and 
arrange. 

"The  female  begins  by  bringing  some  fine  straws  or  grasses 
which  are  arranged  in  a  nice  nest  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole.  Next 
she  procures  some  fine  strips  of  grape-vine  bark,  and  lines  her  nest, 
and  lastly  covers  this  all  over  carefully  and  thickly  with  moss  which 
grows  on  the  bark  of  trees  standing  in  the  water.  *  *  *  They 
very  rarely  use  any  feathers  or  hair,  and  sometimes  build  their  nest 
entirely  of  one  of  the  above  materials."  (Barnes-.) 

Nests  collected  by  Wayne  in  South  Carolina  were  made  of  lichens 
.and  lined  with  cypress  leaves  (C.  W.  C.). 

Gamer  (MS.)  writes  that  in  Mississippi  the  birds  "frequently 
excavate  their  ozvn  hole  in  the  soft  cottonwood  stumps,"  a  habit  not 
mentioned  by  other  writers  I  have  consulted. 

Eggs. — 5  to  7,  usually  6.  Ground  color  a  rich  creamy  white  to 
bufTy;  very  glossy  and  very  heavily  and  profusely  blotched  and  spotted 
with  rich  chestnut-red,  many  lavender  and  purplish  shades  occurring. 
The  heaviest  and  richest  marked  of  North  American  Warblers'  eggs : 
In  shape  a  rounded  oval  tending  to  become  nearly  spherical,  the 
larger  end  having  the  heavier  markings.  An  extreme  type  has 
rich  cream  ground  with  a  few  scattering  spots  of  purplish  brown. 
Size;  average,  .7OX.57;  extremes,  76x.59,  .65x.57,  -7OX.53,  72x.6i. 
(Figs.  6,  7.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Charleston,  S.  C.,  May  3 ;  June  23,  two  eggs 
with  large  embryos  (Wayne)',  Lewis  County,  Mo.,  May  13 
(J.P.N.)  •  Mt.  Carmel,  Illinois,  May  8  (Brewster)  ;  Lacon,  Illinois, 
May  2i-July  7  (C.  W.C.);  Pierce  County,  Wis.,  May  31  (C.  W.  C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(0  WILLIAM  BREWSTER,  The  Prothonotary  Warbler  (Protonotaria  citrea) 
[in  Illinois  and  Indiana],  Bull.  Nutt.  On.  Club,  III,  1878,  153.  (2)  R.  M. 
BARNES,  Nesting  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  37. 
(3)  W.  E.  LOUCKS,  Life  History  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler,  Bull.  111.  State 
Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  IV,  1894,  To;  also  Osprey,  II,  1898,  99,  in,  129.  (4)  T.  S. 
ROBERTS,  The  Prothonotary  or  Golden  Swamp  Warbler  (Protonotaria  citrea)  a 
Common  Summer  Resident  in  southeastern  Minnesota,  Auk,  XVI,  1809,  236. 
(5)  ALBERT  GANIER,  Nesting  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler,  Bird-Lore,  II,  1900, 
89.  (6)  J.  P.  N [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Prothonotary  Warbler,  Orn. 
and  O61.,  XV,  1890,  177. 

Genus  VERMIVORA  Swainson 

Small  size  and  a  short,  straight,  slender,  unnotched,  exceedingly 
acute  bill  distinguish  all  the  species  of  this  genus,  except  V. 


60  GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER 

bachmani,  in  which  the  bill  is  slightly  decurved;  the  rictal 
bristles  are  not  evident;  the  wing  averages  about  .70  inches  longer 
than  the  tail ;  the  tail-feathers  are  rather  narrow,  terminally  rounded 
or  obtusely  pointed;  the  under  tail-coverts  are  about  three-fourths 
as  long  as  the  tail ;  the  feet  are  blackish,  the  tarsus  decidedly  longer 
than  the  middle-toe  and  nail. 

Compared  with  Dendroica  the  species  of  Vermivora,  as  a  whole, 
are  plain  in  color  and  in  pattern  of  coloration. 

V.  chrysoptera  and  V.  pinus  are  the  only  species  having  wing- 
bars;  while  with  V.  bachmani  and,  to  a  lesser  degree,  V.  peregrina, 
they  differ  from  other  members  of  the  genus  in  having  the  tail  marked 
with  white. 

Vermivora  contains  nine  species  and  two  forms  of  doubtful 
status,  all  but  one  of  which,  V.  crissalis  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of 
Colima,  Mexico,  are  North  American.  Four  species  are  eastern,  one 
of  them,  V .  peregrina,  extending,  however,  northwestward  to  Alaska, 
two  are  found  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  and  southward  into 
Mexico,  and  two,  V.  celata  and  V.  rubricapilla,  range  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  their  color  showing  some  response  to  the  vary- 
ing climatic  conditions  encountered  in  so  vast  an  area. 

Although  arboreal  in  habit,  the  species  of  this  genus  nest  upon 
the  ground,  with  the  exception  of  V .  lucia  which  nests  in  holes,  etc., 
and  V .  bachmani,  which  builds  in  low  bushes. 

GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER 

VE3MIVORA   CHRYSOPTERA   (Linn.)     Plate  V 

Distinguishing  Characters. — General  color  gray ;  a  yellow  patch  on  the 
wings;  cheeks  and  throat  black  in  the  cf,  gray  in  the  ?.  Length  (skin),  4.30; 
wing,  2.45;  tail,  1. 90;  bill,  .46. 

Adult  c?,  Sfring. — Crown  yellow  bordered  by  a  white  line  above  eye; 
cheeks  black;  back  gray  sometimes  tinged  with  olive-green;  tail  gray,  the 
outer  three  or  four  feathers  with  white  patches  on  the  inner  vane :  wings 
externally  gray,  the  inner  feathers  edged  with  olive-green,  outer  vane  of  greater 
coverts  largely  yellow,  median  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  yellow,  forming  a 
yellow  wing-patch;  throat  and  upper  breast  black  bordered  by  a  white  line  at 
either  side,  rest  of  underparts  grayish,  white  on  the  median  line. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  the  last  but  more  or  less  washed  with  olive- 
green  above  and  with  yellow  below. 

Young  d,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  black  throat-patch  slightly 
smaller  and  sometimes  tipped  with  grayish,  the  chin  white  connecting  the  two 
white  stripes  on  either  side  of  the  throat. 


GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER 


6l 


Adult  $,  Spring. — Crown  greenish  yellow,  a  white  line  above  eye,  cheeks 
gray;  back  gray  more  or  less  washed  with  olive-green;  tail  and  wings  as  in 
c?  but  yellow  of  wing-bars  more  restricted;  throat  gray  bordered  by  whitish 
stripes;  middle  of  belly  whitish,  sides  gray. 

Adult  ?,  Fall.— Not  seen. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  crown  greener,  back 
and  underparts  washed  with  olive-green,  chin  whitish. 

Nestling.— Dusky  olive-green  above,  below  dusky  olive;  wings  and  tail  as 
in  young  in  Fall,  greater  and  median  wing-coverts  olive-green  tipped  with 
greenish  forming  two  conspicuous  bars.  The  early  development  of  the  plumage 
of  the  throat  soon  distinguishes  the  sexes. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New 
Hampshire  and  Wisconsin ;  west  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

Summer  Range. — The  principal  summer  home  is  in  Michigan, 
southern  Ontario  and  northern  Wisconsin;  a  few  occur  east  to  New 
York  (Penn  Yan,  May  1872;  Buffalo,  May  12,  1888),  New  Hamp- 
shire (Durham,  Hampton  Falls,  Jaffrey,  Manchester  and  Concord), 
and  the  species  is  not  uncommon  locally  in  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut. It  breeds  south  to  northern  Illinois,  northern  Indiana  and 
Ohio,  while  in  the  mountains,  the  breeding  range  takes  a  southerly 
dip  from  Pennsylvania  to  northern  Georgia,  where  at  an  elevation  of 
2,000  to  4,000  feet,  the  bird  is,  locally,  almost  as  common  as  in 
Michigan.  The  species  has  been  noted  in  Manitoba  (Winnipeg 
about  May  24,  1887),  Iowa  (Iowa  City,  May  17,  1885),  and  New 
Mexico  (Fort  Thorn,  April  1854.) 

The  southern  Mississippi  Valley  is  crossed  in  migration,  but  the 
species  is  very  rare  in  eastern  Texas  and  occurs  only  rarely  or 
casually  in  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida;  accidental  in 
Mexico  and  the  West  Indies. 

Winter  Range. — Guatemala  to  Colombia. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Rising   Fawn,   Ga  

April  II,  1885 

Asheville,  N.  C  

April  22,  1893 

French   Creek,  W.  Va  

4 

May      2 

April  30,  1893 

Washington    D    C 

4 

May      3 

May       I,  1905 

Beaver    Pa 

•} 

April  30 

April  24,  1902 

Waynesburg    Pa 

3 

April  30 

April  26,  1896 

Portland    Conn                            

18 

May     12 

Mav      3,  1896 

West   Roxbury,    Mass  

5 

May      9 

May      4.  i8qT 

62 


GOLDEN-WINGED   WARBLER 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Framingham    Mass 

IO 

May    10 

May      8    1895 

Mississippi  Valley— 
St.    Louis,   Mo                           .... 

6 

May      i 

April  26    1888 

Keolcuk    la 

4 

April  10 

Waterloo,   Ind 

6 

April  30 

April  27    1896 

Petersburg,    Mich  

10 

May      4 

April  25    ' 

Livonia,    Mich 

5 

May      7 

Mav      5    1  807 

Detroit,    Mich  

9 

May      7 

May      2    IQOS 

Southern    Ontario    

8 

May      6 

May      2    1900 

Lanesboro,    Minn     .... 

May      8    1887 

Elk  River,  Minn  

May    12    1888 

Fall  Migration. — A  fall  migrant  has  been  seen  at  New  Orleans, 
La.,  as  early  as  July  23,  1898,  and  one  was  taken  on  the  northern 
coast  of  South  America,  September  6,  showing  that  the  Golden-winged 
Warbler  is  among  the  early  migrants.  The  last  ones  seen  were  noted 
at  Lanesboro,  Minn.,  September  8,  1889;  Livonia,  Mich.,  September 
21,  1891;  Chicago,  111.,  September  25,  1895;  Englewood,  N.  J., 
September  2,  1886;  French  Creek,  W.  Va.,  September  15,  1892; 
Chester  County,  S.  C,  September  22,  1887,  and  New  Orleans,  La., 
September  21,  1897. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  beautiful  Warbler  is  by  no 
means  a  rare  bird  throughout  the  greater  part  of  its  breeding  range 
and  in  some  localities  is  abundant,  nevertheless  it  is  usually  sufficiently 
uncommon  as  a  transient  spring  migrant  to  make  its  appearance 
worthy  of  special  comment  in  our  note-books.  Students  of  the  fall 
migration,  however,  will  some  years  find  it  an  abundant  August 
migrant. 

The  complex  and  as  yet  not  clearly  understood  relations  exist- 
ing between  this  species,  the  Blue-winged  Warbler  and  the  inter- 
mediate forms  known  as  Brewster's  and  Lawrence's  Warblers  make, 
as  has  been  said  under  the  Blue-wing,  a  study  of  their  nesting  habits, 
particularly  in  that  region  where  the  range  of  this  species  overlaps 
that  of  the  Blue-wing,  a  matter  of  unusual  interest. 

About  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Brewster7  writes  that  the  Golden-wing 
"frequents  deciduous  woods  and  thickets,  preferring  to  all  other 
places  springy  runs  shaded  by  gray  birches,  old  pastures  growing  up 
to  birches  and  wild  apple  trees,  and  dry  hillsides  covered  with  a 
young  sprout  growth  of  oak,  hickory  or  maple.  As  a  rule  it  shuns 
evergreen  trees,  but  at  its  seasons  of  migration  I  have  occasionally 
seen  it  feeding,  with  Warblers  of  other  species,  in  the  tops  of  large 
white  pines." 


GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER  63 

In  southwestern  Pennsylvania,  we  learn  from  J.  Warren  Jacob's5 
monograph  of  this  species,  it  prefers  fields  "abundantly  supplied  with 
•damp  or  springy  places,  with  rank — but  closely  rooted  grass,  clumps 
of  bushes,  briers,  etc.,  and  the  adjacent  forest  skirted  with  like 
growth."  He  adds:  "I  have  never  found  a  nest  on  the  creek  bottom 
lands,  but  always  well  up  the  side  or  on  top  of  a  hill." 

In  southern  Michigan,  Gibbs2  states,  "the  Golden-wing  evidently 
prefers  low  sections  of  land,  and  appears  most  at  home  in  quarters 
where  deep  woods  border  marshy  tracts.  I  have  yet  to  meet  with  the 
birds  in  very  high  and  dry  localities,  although  they  are  sometimes 
seen  in  elevated  swampy  spots.  I  have  never  found  the  bird  in  oak 
openings,  hickory  lands  or  sandy  soil." 

In  its  general  actions  the  Golden-wing  resembles  the  Blue-wing. 
It  has  the  same  peering  ways  and  habit  of  examining  a  branch  tip  or 
leaf  while  hanging  back  downward.  Jacobs5  writes:  "This  bird  must 
be  a  great  destroyer  of  leaf  lice  and  small  caterpillars  that  infest  the 
tips  of  branches  and  the  underside  of  leaves,  for  they  are  continually 
searching  and  picking  at  the  opening  buds  and  waxen  leaves  at 
the  ends  of  new  twigs,  the  male  pausing  frequently  to  sing.  At  times 
their  actions  [remind]  one  of  the  Gnatcatcher  in  flitting  hither  and 
thither  snatching  up  small  winged  mites." 

The  same  author  states  that  two  days  seem  to  be  ample  time  for 
the  birds  to  complete  a  nest,  and  in  more  than  one  instance  he  has 
known  a  nest  commenced  one  day  to  contain  an  egg  "the  second  day 
thereafter."  The  period  of  incubation,  he  adds,  is  ten  days  and  the 
young  leave  the  nest  when  ten  days  old. 

Song. — "I  have  only  heard  the  song  on  three  occasions,  but  the 
song  is  too  distinctive  a  one  ever  to  be  forgotten.  It  was  uttered 
almost  by  the  hour.  An  indolent,  rather  wheezy  note,  repeated  three 
or  four  times  without  variation ;  always  the  same  note,  a  lazy,  dron- 
ing song  with  a  little  of  the  Black-throated  Blue's  huskiness  in  it. 
The  syllables  sh,  hush,  hush,  hush,  recall  it  to  me,  the  last  three 
slightly  quicker  than  the  first."  (Farwell,  MS.} 

"The  song  of  H.  chrysoptera  consists  normally  of  four  notes 
—shree-e-e,  sivee,  zivee,  swee,— the  first  about  two  notes  higher  than 
the  following  three,  being  slightly  prolonged.  It  is  varied  somewhat 
at  times,  with  the  second  note  like  the  first ;  again  it  is  reduced  to  three 
two,  or  even  a  single  note.  The  song  will  immediately  attract  atten- 
tion from  its  very  oddity.  By  some  it  is  considered  harsh,  but  to  me 
it  has  a  soft  penetrating  quality,  unexcelled,  this  effect  being 
heightened  by  the  uncertain  source  of  the  song."  (Eames*) 


64  GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER 

"While  the  female  is  incubating  the  eggs,  her  mate  moves 
about  the  tips  of  branches  and  tops  of  saplings,  searching  for  food, 
all  the  while  singing  his  little  ditty,  which  is  a  simple  little  bit  of  bird 
music  hard  to  put  into  print.  At  some  distance  the  song  can  be 
distinguished  by  the  syllables  zee-ze-ze-ze-ze,  beginning  slowly  and 
proceeding  more  rapidly  and  ending  in  a  slightly  higher  pitch.  When 
near  the  bird  this  song  sounds  somewhat  different,  and  is  now  hard 
to  imitate  in  type.  The  best  I  can  do  is  to  write  it  see-u-ee'-zee-u-ee'- 
zee-u-ee'  zee-u-zwce ,  with  the  u  barely  articulated.  I  have  several 
times  heard  the  song  continued  to  the  middle  of  July,  and  again  on  still, 
sultry  days  in  August.  At  this  time,  however,  it  is  not  so  strong 
and  complete  as  during  the  early  summer.  While  emitting  this  song, 
the  bird  stands  quite  erect,  stretched  up  to  its  full  height,  the  throat 
extended  until  the  feathers  ruffle.  The  head  pointing  about  70  degrees 
upward  when  the  first  syllable  is  uttered,  is  turned  farther  upward  at 
the  close  of  the  song.  The  alarm  note  of  both  sexes,  when  the  nest  or 
young  is  disturbed,  consists  of  a  sharp  chip  like  that  of  the  Chipping 
Sparrow,  but  sharper  and  repeated  oftener."  (Jacobs.5) 

Nesting  Site. — The  following  quotation  from  Jacob's5  admirable 
monograph  of  this  species  seems  to  apply  to  the  bird  throughout  its 
nesting  range :  "The  nest  is  hardly  ever  placed  away  from  some  sub- 
stantially supporting  stalks  of  weeds — new  or  dead — briers,  elders, 
sprouts,  etc.,  of  not  sufficient  abundance  to  hinder  a  good  growth  of 
grass.  One  nest  was  placed  above  ground,  being  three  inches  up  in 
a  clump  of  iron-weeds  in  a  marshy  place." 

Nest. — "The  domicile  is  rather  compact  and  neatly  cupped,  but 
on  the  whole  is  very  bulky  for  a  bird  so  small.  The  base  is  composed 
of  dry  oak  and  beech  leaves,  and  other  leaves  which  dry  hard,  glossy, 
and  without  crumpling;  on  top  of  this  heap  a  more  compact  structure 
is  made,  the  leaves  being  placed  points  downward ;  then  comes  a  goodly 
supply  of  strips  of  grapevine  bark  and  shreds  of  inner  tree  bark,  so 
placed  that  the  rough  ends  extend  beyond  the  rim  of  the  nest.  A 
lining  is  then  put  in  place  consisting  of  fine  grass  stems  and,  in  some 
cases,  long  horse-hairs.  A  strict  lining  is  not  alway  put  in  place, 
some  birds  being  content  to  rest  the  eggs  on  the  grapevine  bark  and 
a  few  intermingling  grass  stems.  Although  constructed  of  coarse 
materials,  the  inside  of  the  nest  presents  a  neat  appearance,  the  long 
shreds  of  bark  and  grasses  crossing  diagonally,  much  resembling 
basket  work.  The  opening  is  not  straight  down,  but  slightly  tilted, 
the  jaggy  leaf-stems  and  bark  sometimes  reaching  two  or  three  inches 
above  the  rim  of  the  nest  proper.  *  *  *  Two  days  seem  to  be 


PLATE  IV 


1.  BACHMAN'S  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE.  3.    BACHMAN'S  WARBLER,  YOUNG  FEMALE 

2.  BACHMAN'S  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE.  4.    WORM-EATING  WARBLER,  ADULT. 

5-    SWAINSON'S  WARBLER,  ADULT. 
(One-half  natural  size.) 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER  65 

ample  time  for  the  birds  to  complete  a  nest,  and  in  more  than  one 
instance  I  have  [found  that]  a  nest  commenced  one  day  contained  an 
egg  the  second  day  thereafter."  (Jacobs.5) 

E-ggs. — 4  to  6,  usually  5.  Ground  color  white,  markings  the 
same  as  in  the  eggs  of  the  Blue-winged  Warbler,  except  that  they 
are  more  profuse  and  of  larger  size,  tending  to  form  small  blotches 
in  many  cases.  Size;  average,  .66x.5i ;  extremes,  -73X.55,  .58x.5i, 
.61x48.  (Figs.  15-17.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Weave rville,  N.  C.,  May  22,  Tarboro,  N.  C, 
Tune  22  (C.  IV.  C.)  ;  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May  14-June  13  (Jacobs)', 
Bethel,  Conn.,  May  2p-May  31  (Bishop)  ;  Monroe  County,  Mich., 
May  i7-June  18  (/.  P.  N.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL   REFERENCES 

(i)  J.  WARREN,  Nesting  of  the  Golden-winged  Warbler  (Helminthophila 
chrysoptcra)  in  Massachusetts,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  I,  1876,  6.  (2)  'SCOLOPAX' 
[—MORRIS  GIBBS],  Nesting  Habits  of  the  Golden-winged  Warbler,  Oologist, 
XI,  1894,  311.  (3)  J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Golden-winged 
Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XV,  1890,  21.  (4)  J.  H.  SAGE,  Notes  on  Helmin- 
thophila  chrysoptera  in  Connecticut,  Auk,  X,  1893,  208.  (5)  J.  W.  JACOBS, 
The  Haunts  of  the  Golden-winged  Warbler,  with  notes  on  Migration,  Nest 
Building,  Song,  Food,  Young,  Eggs,  Etc.,  published  by  the  author,  Waynes- 
burg,  Pa.  (6)  E.  H.  EAMES,  Notes  on  the  Blue-winged  Warbler  and  Its 
Allies,  Auk,  VI,  1889,  305.  (7)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge 
Region,  322. 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA    PINUS    (Linn.)     Plate  V 

Distinguishing  Characters. — A  black  or  blackish  line  through  the  eye ;  fore- 
head yellow  or  yellowish;  two  white  wing-bars.  Length  (skin),  4.10;  wing, 
2.45;  tail,  1.85;  bill,  .46. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  yellow,  nape  and  back  olive-green;  a  black  or 
blackish  line  to  or  through  the. eye;  tail  gray,  three  outer  feathers  with  large 
white  patches  on  their  inner  vanes,  fourth  and  fifth  sometimes  with  white ; 
wings  externally  grayish,  inner  feathers  more  or  less  margined  with  olive- 
green;  median  coverts  tipped  with  white  on  both  vanes,  greater  coverts  chiefly 
on  outer  vane  forming  two  white  wing-bars, ;  below  uniform  yellow,  the 
crissum  whitish. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  last  but  crown  more  or  less  tipped  with  greenish. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  £  in  Fall,  but  crown  somewhat  greener. 


66  BLUE- WINGED  WARBLER 

Adult  ?,  Spring.— Resembles  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  crown  more  like  back, 
eye-stripe   duskier,   generally   less   white   in   tail   and   on   wing-coverts.     Much 
like  young  Fall  d",  but  eye-stripe  duskier. 
Adult  ?,  Fall.— Similar  to  last. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  preceding,  but  crown  still  greener. 
\cstling.— Dusky  olive-yellow  above,  paler  and  more  yellow  below. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Connecti- 
cut and  Iowa;  west  nearly  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — Southern  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  northern 
Kentucky,  northern  Missouri  and  southern  Iowa.  Eastward  the  bird 
breeds  more  rarely  and  locally  in  some  of  the  lower  portions  of 
southern  Pennsylvania  (West  Chester,  Carlisle,  East  Penn,  Kirkland, 
Laughlintown)  ;  Maryland  (Laurel,  Gwynn's  Falls);  Washington, 
D.  C,  more  commonly  northward  to  southeastern  New  York  (River- 
dale,  Ossining,  Oyster  Bay);  New  Jersey  (Englewood;  Morris 
County);  Connecticut  (New  Haven,  Stratford,  Stamford,  Brantford, 
Portland,  Bridgeport,  Saybrook)  ;  rarely  in  Rhode  Island  (Glou- 
cester). 

The  species  occurs  rarely  or  casually  in  Massachusetts  (West 
Roxbury,  May  17,  1878,  Boston,  May  29,  1902,  Dedham,  May, 
1857,  Dorchester,  May  15,  1897);  western  New  York  (Penn  Yan)  ; 
southern  Michigan  (Petersburg,  May  10,  1894,  Battle  Creek,  May 
13,  1902,  Detroit,  May  29,  1902)  ;  southern  Wisconsin  (LaCrosse,  May 
/.  1885),  and  southern  Minnesota  (Minneapolis,  May  17,  1880),  west 
to  Nebraska  (Omaha,  Peru)  ;  Kansas  (Emporia  and  OnagaV 

The  most  southern  breeding  records  are  in  the  Creek  Nation, 
Oklahoma;  on  the  St.  Francis  River  in  extreme  southeastern 
Missouri;  Tishomingo  County,  Mississippi;  and  on  the  coast  of 
Georgia  near  the  mouth  of  the  Altamaha  River.  Throughout  most 
portions  of  the  southeastern  States  from  South  Carolina  to  eastern 
Texas,  the  species  is  a  rare  migrant;  accidental  once  in  the  West 
Indies. 

U' inter  Range. — Northern  Mexico  to  Colombia.  There  is  but 
one  record  for  the  West  Indies,  that  of  a  specimen  taken  on  Abaco 
Island,  Bahamas,  April  7. 

Spring  Migration. — South  of  the  United  States  the  Blue-winged 
Warbler  has  been  recorded  on  only  one  occasion  during  the  spring 
migration,  when  Chapman  noted  a  single  bird  at  Jalapa.  Vera  Cruz. 
April  7,  1897.  The  migration,  however,  was  evidently  well  under 
way  at  that  date  for  the  earliest  arrivals  of  this  species  noted  in  th? 
United  States  are  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  March  22,  1898,  and  on  the 
Tortugas,  Fla.,  March  23.  1890. 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Shelby,    Ala  

April    4    1898 

Washington,   D.   C     

April  26    1891 

New  Providence,  N.  J  

7 

May    *  7 

May      3,  1891 

Englewood,    N.    J  

8 

May      4 

May      2,  1902 

Beaver,   Pa  
Berwyn,    Pa  
Southeastern  New  York  
Portland,   Conn  

3 
7 
5 
13 

May      3 
May      7 
May      4 
May     12 

May      2,  1891 
May      3,  1900 
May      2,  1900 
May      2,  1902 

Framingham,    Mass  

May     13,  1896 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
Eubank    Ky 

8 

April  14 

April  10    1893 

St    Louis,   Mo 

7 

April  22 

April  17    1883 

Brookville,    Ind     

6 

April  26 

April  17,  1896 

Oberlin,    Ohio    

10 

April  30 

April  27,  1897 

Rockford,    111  

May      6 

May      2,  1890 

Petersburg,    Mich  

May     10,  1897 

Grinnell,  la  

4 

May      4 

April  28,  1888 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

6 

May     14 

May      7,  1895 

Fall  Migration. — The  last  one  noted  at  Lanesboro,  Minn.,  was 
on  September  i,  1889,  but  the  southern  part  of  the  breeding-ground 
is  not  deserted  until  early  in  October. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Although  the  Blue-wing  is  locally 
common,  its  insignificant  song  and  generally  quiet  ways  make  it  a  com- 
paratively inconspicuous  bird,  likely  to  be  noticed  only  by  those  who 
look  for  it.  It  is  not,  as  a  rule,  a  deep  woods  Warbler,  though  I 
have  found  it  nesting  in  heavy  forest,  but  prefers  rather,  bordering 
second  growths,  with  weedy  openings,  from  which  it  may  follow 
lines  or  patches  of  trees  to  haunts  some  distance  from  the  woods. 

It  is  rather  deliberate  in  movements  for  a  Warbler,  and  is  less 
of  a  flutterer  than  the  average  member  of  the  genus  Dendroica. 
Some  of  its  motions  suggest  those  of  the  tree-inhabiting  Vireos,  while 
at  times,  as  the  bird  hangs  downward  from  some  cocoon  it  is  investi- 
gating, one  is  reminded  of  a  Chickadee". 

The  Blue  wing's  unsettled  relations  with  the  Golden-wing  and 
with  Brewster's  and  Lawrence's  Warblers,  create  a  special  interest 
in  its  life  history,  and  the  fact,  that  among  this  group  of  birds  song 
i*  not  always  diagnostic,  makes  it  well  worth  while  to  attempt  to  see 
the  singer  of  every  supposed  Blue-wing  song. 

The  following  study  of  the  Blue-wing  is  contributed  by  F.  L. 
Burns,  of  Berwyn,  Pennsylvania: 

"This  species  is  here  an  inhabitant  of  the  rather  open  swampy 
thickets,  upland  clearings,  neglected  pastures  and  fence  rows,  where 


68  BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER 

the  grass  and  weeds  have  not  been  choked  out  by  a  too  thick  growth  of 
briers,  bushes,  saplings  and  vines.  While  not  precisely  a  bird  of  the 
semi-cultivated  fields,  it  has  a  wider  local  range  than  any  of  our  home 
Warblers  with  the  possible  exception  of  the  Chat. 

"Perched  inconspicuously  near  the  top  and  well  out  in  the 
branchlets  of  a  tree  or"  sapling,  preferably  facing  an  opening,  if  in  a 
thicket;  it  is  in  itself  so  minute  an  object  as  to  be  passed  unseen  by 
many,  more  especially  as  it  is  much  less  active  than  most  of  our 
Warblers.  With  body  feathers  puffed  out  to  a  delightful  plumpness, 
except  for  the  backward  sweep  of  the  head  while  in  the  act  of  sing- 
ing, it  remains  motionless  for  quite  a  while.  When  it  moves  it  is 
with  a  combination  of  nervous  haste  and  deliberation,  and  its  song 
may  be  heard  from  quite  another  part  of  the  landscape  with  no 
apparent  reason  for  the  change.  While  it  has  its  favorite  song  perches, 
it  is  quite  a  wanderer  and  not  infrequently  sings  beyond  possible 
hearing  of  its  brooding  mate,  but  oftener  within  fifty  to  two  hundred 
feet  of  the  nest. 

"Deposition  of  eggs  occurred  daily,  in  one  instance,  when  five 
eggs  were  laid,  and  before  nine  a.  m.  Incubation  commences  soon 
after  the  completion  of  set,  the  female  sitting  on  eggs  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  day  in  which  she  completes  the  set.  In  an  exceptional 
case  in  which  three  eggs  formed  the  clutch,  the  embryo  was  la-fce 
in  one,  commenced  to  form  in  the  second,  and  the  third  egg  was 
fresh,  showing  that  several  days  elapsed  between  deposition,  and  thr 
commencement  of  incubation  before  the  set  was  complete. 

"The  task  of  incubation  falls  on  the  female  alone.  It  appears  that 
an  airing  is  taken  in  the  early  morning  or  a  little  before  midday,  and 
again  in  the  early  evening,  though  perhaps  not  regularly  every  day. 
I  have  not  seen  the  male  about  the  nest  with  food  at  this  period. 
The  female  will  allow  a  close  approach,  looking  into  one's  eyes  with 
that  hunted  look  so  common  in  wild  animals,  and  often  flushing; 
without  a  protesting  note.  The  period  of  incubation  in  the  one 
instance  was  exactly  ten  days. 

"On  June  13,  at  6.30  p.  m.,  five  young  just  hatched  were  blind, 
naked  and  prostrate  from  chin  to  sternum.  The  shells  were 
disposed  of  immediately,  in  what  manner  I  am  unable  to  state;  the 
female  was  reluctant  to  vacate. 

"On  June  15,  at  2.45  p.  m.,  the  young  were  able  to  raise  their 
heads  slightly  and  a  fluffy  bit  of  down  had  appeared  about  the  head, 
also  a  dark  stripe  along  the  back  bone.  The  female  appeared,  accom- 
panied by  the  male,  and  fed  the  young  with  small  green  larva— such 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER  69 

as  may  be  found  on  the  underside  of  oak  and  chestnut  leaves — and 
then  shielded  the  callow  young  from  the  hot  rays  of  the  sun. 

"On  June   16,  at  6.30  p.  m.,  when  the  young  were  three  days 
old,  a  downy  puff  appeared  between  the  shoulders,  wing  quills  being . 
dark.     The  strongest  bird  had  the  eyes  partly  open  and  the  mouth 
wide  open  for  food. 

"On  June  18,  at  7  p.  m.,  the  heads  and  bodies  were  no  longer 
flesh-colored  but  were  well  enough  covered  to  appear  dark.  The  eyes 
were  open.  At  a  cluck  from  me  their  mouths  flew  open.  Both 
parents  fed  them  with  green-colored  larvae.  When  the  male  rested 
a  moment  on  a  brier  above  the  nest,  the  female  flew  down  and  drove 
him  away,  fed  the  young,  re-appearing  with  excrement  in  her  beak, 
which  was  carried  in  an  opposite  direction  from  the  regular  approach 
via  maple  bough  and  poplar  sapling.  The  male  fed  young  from  a 
mouthful  of  very  minute  larvae  or  eggs,  which  were  gathered  from 
the  silken  nests  in  the  unfolding  leaves  of  a  nearby  poplar;  after 
this  (7.30  p.  m.)  the  female  covered  the  young  for  the  night. 

"On  June  20,  at  from  6.50  to  7.35  p.  m.,  the  young  had  been 
seven  days  in  the  nest.  They  were  well  feathered  and  of  a  yellowish- 
green  cast,  the  short  tails  being  tipped  with  yellow.  The  parents  were 
more  suspicious.  The  female  came  to  the  maple  bough  with  some- 
thing in  her  beak  and  flew  down  to  the  briers  and  back  again  several 
times  before  she  dropped  to  the  edge  of  the  nest  and  fed  her  young. 
The  male  appeared  immediately  but  swallowed  a  green  grub  himself 
upon  discovery  of  me  twenty-five  feet  away.  The  female  came 
again  in  five  minutes  with  a  brownish  object  in  her  bill,  but  appeared 
more  timid  and  refused  to  drop  to  the  nest  until  the  male  set  her 
an  example  of  courage. 

"On  June  21,  at  6.12  p.  m.,  the  young  were  fully  fledged  in  green 
plumage  above  and  dirty  yellow  beneath.  They  showed  fear  of 
me  for  the  first  time,  eyeing  me  in  the  same  manner  as  the  parent 
bird  when  on  the  nest.  They  were  evidently  ready  to  vacate  at  a 
moment's  notice  or  hasty  movement  on  my  part.  The  parents  appeared, 
scolding  rapidly.  The  female  fed  the  young  as  soon  as  I  retired 
to  my  old  stand  under  a  bush,  with  a  rather  large  green  grub  (6.20 
p.m.)  and  flew  out  to  the  top  of  a  blackberry  bush,  followed  imme- 
diately by  the  topmost  fledgeling.  It  could  do  little  more  than  run. 
The  adults  flew  to  within  a  yard  of  my  head,  making  a  great  outcry, 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement  the  remainder  of  the  young 
vacated  the  nest  with  feeble  chips.  The  male  gave  his  attention 
to  them,  while  the  female  followed  me  as  I  beat  a  hasty  retreat  to 


70  BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER 

enable  them  to  collect  their  little  family  before  dark.  Eight  days 
had  elapsed  since  incubation  was  completed,  and  it  is  not  at  all 
unusual  for  the  young  of  this  species  to  leave  the  nest  while  so 
tiny  and  ragged." 

Song. — The  strong  suggestion  of  inhaling  and  exhaling  which 
characterizes  the  simple  and  most  common  song  of  this  species,  has 
been  noted  by  many  observers. 

"The  ordinary  call  song  of  this  species  has  a  decided  insect 
quality.  He  seems  to  inhale  a  shrill  zre-c-e-e-e-e  and  immediately 
exhale  a  buzzing  zive-e-e-e-e-e,  the  whole  performance  comprising  a 
perfect  double  run  through  about  half  an  octave  of  the  scale.  Often 
it  seems  to  be  a  simple  zive-e-e-e-e-e  ze-e-e-e-e-e,  the  latter  part 
merely  a  sputter.  At  its  best  the  song  is  a  drowsy  locust-like  shrill, 
belonging  rather  to  mid-summer  than  to  spring. 

"There  is  another  song  which  is  usually  given  during  the  early 
summer  months,  but  which  I  have  heard  shortly  after  the  arrival  of 
the  bird  in  the  last  days  of  April  or  the  first  days  of  May.  This  song 
is  far  more  varied  and  has  a  far  better  claim  to  be  called  a  song. 
Mr.  Chapman  renders  it  wee,  chi-chi-chi-chi,  chur,  chee-chur. 

"There  are  two  definite  song  periods,  the  first  beginning  with  the 
bird's  arrival  and  ending  about  the  middle  of  June,  during  which 
time  the  insect  song  is  given  almost  entirely ;  the  second  one  beginning 
late  in  July  or  early  in  August  and  continuing  to  the  third  week  in 
August,  this  period  being  characterized  by  the  more  varied  song,  but 
not  to  the  entire  exclusion  of  the  other."  (Jones.} 

"A  drowsy,  locust-like,  s-i^c-c-c-c-e  ze-e-e-e-e,  the  first  apparently 
inhaled  and  the  last  exhaled.  *  *  Another  song  heard  on  the 

first  day  of  arrival,  on  one  occasion,  uttered  by  several  males  in  com- 
pany, possibly  transients  here,  and  maybe  the  mating  song,  suggests 
the  Chickadee's  chc-dc-de-c.  chc-dee-c,  and  c/ie-dc-dc-dcc.  uttered 
repeatedly  in  one  form  or  other  in  some  excitement,  and  while  run- 
ning out  on  the  branchlets.  The  call  and  alarm  note  is  a  rather  weak 
chip,  uttered  more  or  less  rapidly  and  not  distinguishable  from  that 
of  several  other  of  our  local  Warblers.  The  male  sings  upon  arrival 
up  to  about  the  i6th  of  June  (June  11-24  in  a  series  of  years) 
marking  the  end  of  the  breeding  season.  A  second  period  of  song 
in  1902  occurred  July  2-7,  perhaps  a  belated  breeder.  1  have  not 
recognized  the  female  as  a  singer."  (Burns,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site.— On  the  ground  sometimes  in  a  bunch  of  weeds, 
goldenrod  being  frequently  chosen,  but  often  placed  independently  of 
its  immediate  surroundings.  A  favorite  locality  is  the  bushy  border 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER  7, 

of  woods  or  second  growths  or  partly  grown  clearings,  but  I  have 
found  rests  in  the  heart  of  heavy  forests  and  also  well  out  in  the 
fields  near  hedge-rows. 

"Never  far  from  a  grove,  thicket  or  woods;  sometimes  nesting 
on,  but  usually  just  above,  the  ground  in  a  clump  of  grass,  golden- 
rod,  or  wild  aster,  raspberry  or  blackberry  sprouts,  or  at  the  foot  of 
a  small  sapling  or  wild  rose-bush.  The  nest  is  always  surrounded 
by  grass,  weeds,  briars,  wild  grapevine,  etc.  One  nest  was  placed 
within  a  foot  of  the  wheel  track  of  a  much  frequented  public  road. 
The  bird  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  does  not  use  the  same  site 
or  even  within  a  few  feet  of  it  the  second  time;  but  apparently  the 
same  individuals  return  to  the  same  tract  regularly  and  nest  in  some 
part  of  it."  (Burns,  MS.) 

Nest. — "Outwardly  composed  of  the  broad  blades  of  a  coarse 
grass,  the  dead  leaves  of  the  maple,  beech,  chestnut,  cherry  and  oak 
trees;  the  leaf  points  curving  upward  and  inward  forming  a  deep 
cup-like  nest  in  which  the  bird's  head  and  tail  seem  almost  to  meet 
over  her  back.  Occasionally  grass  stems  coarse  strips  of  wild  grape- 
vine bark,  shreds  of  corn  fodder,  and  fragments  of  beech  and  wild 
cherry  bark  appear  in  the  make-up.  Lined  most  frequently  with 
wild  grapevine  bark  laid  across,  instead  of  bent  around  in  a  circle, 
shredded  finest  on  top,  to  which  is  added  an  occasional  long  black 
horse-hair  or  split  grass  stem,  with  now  and  then  a  final  lining  of 
split  grass  stems  in  place  of  fine  bark.  The  shape  varies  in  accord- 
ance to  situation,  outwardly  a  short  cornucopia,  a  round  basket,  and 
once  a  wall-pocket  affair,  would  best  describe  the  shapes  I  have 
noticed."  (Burns,  MS.) 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  nearly  always  5.  Ground  color  white  to  slightly 
creamy;  the  variations  in  markings  range  from  entirely  unmarked  to 
as  heavily  marked  as  some  eggs  of  the  Northern  Yellow-throat,  but 
in  all  cases  the  markings  are  most  delicate  specks  and  spots  of  burnt 
umber,  seal  brown,  chestnut,  lavender,  and  rich  purplish  shades, 
mostly  at  the  larger  end,  but  in  some  examples,  sparingly  distributed 
over  the  entire  egg.  Shape,  rounded  oval;  one  of  the  daintiest  eggs 
of  all  our  Warblers.  Size;  average,  .64X.5I ;  extremes,  .68x.53, 
.59x46.  (Figs.  12-14.) 

Nesting  Dates.— West  Chester,  Pa.,  May  27- June  10  (Jackson)  ; 
New  York  City,  May  2$-June  19  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn., 
May  20- June  16  (Bishop)  ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May  lo-june  10  (Jones)  ; 
De  Kalb  County,  Ind.,  May  26  (Gault). 


72  LAWRENCE'S  WARBLER 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  F.  T.  JENKS,  The  Blue-winged  Warbler;  Its  Nesting  Habits,  Orn.  and 
O61.,  VI,  1881,  57.  (2)  J.  N.  CLARK,  The  Blue-winged  Warbler,  Orn.  and 
O61.,  VIII,  1883,  37.  (3)  I.  S.  REIFF,  A  Few  Days  among  the  Blue-winged 
Warblers  [near  Philadelphia?],  Orn.  and  O61.,  XVIII,  1893,  6.  (4)  E.  H. 
EAMES,  Notes  on  the  Blue-winged  Warbler  and  Its  Allies,  Auk,  VI,  1889, 
305.  (5)  B.  S.  BOWDISH,  Some  Breeding  Warblers  of  Demarest,  N.  J.,  Auk, 
XXIII,  1906,  16. 

INTERMEDIATES  BETWEEN 

VERMIVORA  CHRYSOTERA  and  V.  PINUS 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Between  the  Golden-winged  and 
Blue-winged  Warblers  there  exists  a  series  of  intergrades  known 
variously  as  Lawrence's  Warbler  (Venmvora  lawrencei)  and 
Brewster's  Warbler  (Vermivora  leucobronchialis) .  Typical 
lawrencei  is  a  yellow  bird  with  a  black  throat  and  auriculars,  in 
short,  pin  us  with  the  black  markings  of  chrysoptera.  Typical  leuco- 
bronchialis,  meaning  the  extreme  development  of  the  leucobronchialis 
type,  is  white  below,  gray  above  with  the  forehead  and 
wing-bars  yellow.  A  discussion  of  the  status  of  these  interesting 
birds  follows  a  description  of  their  plumages. 

LAWRENCE'S  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  LAWRENCEI  (Herrick)    Plate  V 

Adult  <3,  Spring. — Crown  yellow;  lores  and  upper  part  of  auriculars  black; 
back  bright  olive-green ;  tail  grayish,  inner  vanes  of  the  three  outer  feathers 
largely  white,  fourth  with  much  less  white;  wings  grayish,  inner  feathers 
edged  with  olive-green;  wing-bars  as  in  H.  pinus  or  chrysoptera  or  white 
but  as  broad  as  in  chrysoptera ;  chin  and  sides  of  the  throat  yellow,  throat 
and  upper  breast  black,  rest  of  underparts  yellow,  the  sides  greener.  A  speci- 
men in  the  Bishop  collection  has  the  chin  yellow,  the  sides  of  the  throat  white. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Cheek  stripe  and  throat  dusky  olive,  rest  of  plumage  as 
in  °.  pinus  but  wing-bars  sometimes  as  in  chrysoptera;  another  specimen 
resembles  $  chrysoptera  but  is  greener  above  and  more  yellow  below. 

Nestling. — Like  similar  plumage  of  pinus  but  cheek-stripe  and  throat-patch 
dusky. 

General  Distribution. — Northern  New  Jersey,  tower  Hudson 
valley,  eastward  to  the  Connecticut  valley  in  Connecticut. 

Summer  Range. — Specimens  have  been  taken  or  observed  near 
Chatham,  N.  J.  (Herrick},  Hoboken,  N.  J.  (Lawrence),  Morristown, 
N.  J.  (Brewster),  Englewood,  N.  J.  (Dwight),  Bronx  Park,  New 
York  City  (Bildersee,  Beebe),  Rye,  N.  Y.  (Foorhees),  Stamford 


PLATE  V 


1.  BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

3.  LAWRENCE'S  WARBLER,  MALE. 


4.  BREWSTER'S  WARBLER,  MALE. 

5.  GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER,  MALE. 

6.  GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


BREWSTER'S  WARBLER  73. 

Conn.  (Bishop),  Bridgeport,  Conn.  (Eames),  New  Haven,  Conn. 
(Bishop),  Portland,  Conn.  (Sage). 

Winter  Range. — Unknown. 

Spring  Migration. — Bridgeport,  Conn.,  May  16;  Portland,  Conn.,. 
May  14. 

The  Bird  in  its  Haunts. — Observations  on  the  song,  etc.,  of  this 
species  are  given  under  Brewster's  Warbler. 

BREWSTER'S  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  LEUCOBRONCHIALIS   (Brewst.)    Plate  V 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  yellow,  a  black  or  blackish  line  from  bill  to  or 
through  the  eye,  back  gray  with,  as  the  bird  tends  towards  pinus,  more  OF 
less  greenish;  tail  as  in  pinus,  wings  externally  grayish,  the  inner  feathers 
edged  with  greenish,  wing-bars  generally  broadly  yellow  as  in  chrysoptera,  but 
not  infrequently  -white  as  in  pinus  and  often  variously  intermediate  between- 
the  two;  underparts  white  rarely  without  more  or  less  yellow  tinge  on  the 
breast  increasing  in  intensity  and  extent  as  the  bird  approaches  pinus. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  crown  duller,  eye-stripe 
duskier,  back  with  more  green,  breast  with  more  yellow. 

Nestling. — Unknown;  all  the  nestlings  taken  or  described  having  leucobron- 
chialis  for  c?  or  $  parent,  being,  singularly  enough,  like  the  nestling  of  pinus. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States,  north  to  Connecti- 
cut and,  rarely  Massachusetts,  west  to  Michigan. 

Summer  Range. — The  bird  has  been  found  breeding  at  Engle- 
wood,  N.  J.,  (Chapman},  Bridgeport,  Conn.  (Eames),  North  Haven,. 
Conn.  (Bishop),  Bethel,  Conn.  (Meeker),  Portland,  Conn.  (Sage)  *r 
there  are  also  records  in  the  breeding  season  for  Ossining,  N.  Y. 
(Fisher),  various  places  in  Connecticut  (Bishop  et  al),  Newtonviller 
Mass.  (Brewsfer),  Hudson,  Mass.  (Purdie),  Lexington,  Mass. 
(Faxon),  Oberlin,  O.  (Jones),  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich.  (Gibbs.) 

Winter  Range. — During  its  migrations  this  species  has  been 
taken  near  Philadelphia  and  Washington,  and  New  Orleans.  There 
are  no  winter  records. 

Spring  Migration. — Washington,  D.  C,  May  I,  and  8;  Clifton, 
Pa.,  May  12;  Maplewood,  N.  J.,  May  n  ;  Englewood,  N.  J.  May  15; 
Parkville,  L.  I.,  May  16;  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  May  6;  Portland,  Conn., 
May  10 ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May  23. 

Fall  Migration. — Ossining,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  24;  Chester  Co.,  Pa.f 
Aug  31. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  haunts  and  general  habits  of 
Lawrence's  and  Brewster's  Warblers  do  not  appear  to  differ  from 
those  of  the  Golden-winged  and  Blue-winged  Warblers. 


74  BREWSTER'S  WARBLER 

Song. — As  the  following  records  show  some  individuals  of  these 
birds  sing  like  V.  pinus,  some  like  V.  chrysoptera  while  the  song  of 
others  is  intermediate  in  character. 

From  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  Eames8  writes:  "Seven  birds,  typical  of 
V .  leucobronchialis,  expressed  their  good  spirits  by  precisely  the  song 
of  the  preceding  (V '.  chrysoptera)  except  in  one  trifling  point. 
Another,  with  a  bright  yellow  breast-patch,  had,  in  addition,  a  few 
original  variations  of  its  own.  Still  another,  with  a  close  resemblance 
to  V.  pinus,  repeated  songs  of  V '.  chrysoptera  only,  but  they  were  all 
harsh  and  disagreeable  in  comparison.  *  *  *  A  perfectly  typical 
bird  repeated  but  one  style  of  song.  This  surprised  me  greatly,  it 
being  precisely  the  same  as  the  commoner  song  of  V .  pinus.  I  heard 
this  many  times  on  two  different  occasions  before  shooting  the  bird, 
and  it  was  always  the  same.  But  one  more  bird,  with  a  faint  greenish 
color  on  the  back,  a  strong  patch  of  yellow  on  the  breast,  and  a 
wash  elsewhere  on  the  under  parts,  used  the  latter  song  exclusively. 

"The  only  V.  lawrencei  I  ever  knowingly  listened  to,  as  before 
mentioned,  favored  me  with  its  song  for  nearly  two  hours,  and  dur- 
ing the  several  hundred  repetitions,  it  never  varied  in  the  least 
particular  from  the  characteristic  song  of  V.  pinus,  its  song  consist- 
ing of  two  drawling  notes,  see-e-e  e,  swee-e-e-e-e,  with  a  very  decided 
z  sound.  The  first  series  is  somewhat  higher  pitched  than  the  last 
rind  hardly  as  long  continued." 

"Continued  experience  leads  me  to  think  that  the  song  of  this 
puzzling  bird  ( V.  leucobronchialis)  is  not,  as  has  been  stated,  any 
criterion  by  which  to  distinguish  it.  Sometimes  they  sing  exactly  like 
chrysoptera,  again  like  pinus,  and  often  have  notes  peculiar  to  them- 
selves." (Sage19.) 

"During  the  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  which  the  bird  (V.  Icucobron- 
chialis)  was  under  observation  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  it  sing 
many  times,  even  seeing  it  open  its  bill  in  the  act  of  song.  This  song 
exactly  resembled  the  rising  and  falling  tse  notes  of  V.  pinus  but  was 
slightly  weaker  than  the  average  song  of  that  species."  (Chapman6.) 

From  a  male  Lawrence's  Warbler  which  was  nesting  with  a 
Blue-winged  Warbler,  Bildersee18  records  the  following  three  songs 
and  the  observation  is  independently  confirmed  by  Beebe17 : 

"(a)  Shree-e-e,  zwe-e-e-e,  the  first  syllable  like  that  of  the  song 
of  the  Golden-winged  Warbler,  the  second  like  that  of  the  song  of  the 
Blue-wing.  This  was  the  song  most  frequently  heard. 

(b)  Shree-e,  shree,  shree,  shree,  the  typical  song  of  the  Golden- 
winged  Warbler. 


BREWSTER'S  WARBLER  75 

(c)  Chip-a-chip-a-chip-a-shree,  the  first  phrase  of  this  song  is 
exactly  like  the  song  heard  during  the  second  song  period  of  the 
Blue-winged  Warbler,  the  second  being  a  typical  Golden-wing  syl- 
lable. 

Besides  these  three  songs  we  heard  a  sharp  call-note — tzip — and 
a  thin  scolding  note  when  we  came  too  near  the  nest." 

Nesting  Habits. — The  more  significant  discoveries  in  regard  to 
the  breeding  of  Brewster's  and  Lawrence's  Warblers  are  scheduled 
below : 

Englewood,  N.  J.  V.  pinus  2  ,  feeds  two  young,  both  were  taken, 
one  proving  to  be  pinus  the  other  lawrencei  (D-wight20) . 

Englewood,  N.  J.  V.  leucobronchialis  2  evidently  mated  with 
V .  pinus  $  the  three  of  their  offspring  taken  were  typical  of  pinus. 
(Chapman*). 

Englewood,  N.  J.  V.  leucobronchialis  2 ,  with  strong  yellow 
wash  on  breast,  mated  with  typical  pinus  $  ;  eggs  destroyed.  (Chap- 
man9). 

New  York  City.  V .  lawrencei  $  ,  mated  with  pinus  2  .  The  six 
young  were  apparently  typical  of  pinus.  (Bildersee10 ;  Beebe  17). 

Ossining,  N.  Y.  V.  chrysoptera  2  feeds  two  young,  one  of 
which  collected,  is  typical  of  pinus ;  the  other,  which  escaped,  was  seen 
to  resemble  the  mother  and  had  no  yellow  on  the  breast.  (Fisher*). 
Bethel,  Conn.  V.  chrysoptera  $ ,  breeds  with  V.  pinus  $ ,  the 
only  one  of  the  five  young  secured  was  typical  of  V.  pinus. 
(Meeker^). 

Bridgeport,  Conn.  V '.  leucobronchialis  $  ,  and  V .  pinus  $  ,  feed 
young  showing  "a  marked  general  similarity  to  the  young  of  pinus." 
(Eames8). 

North  Haven,  Conn.  V.  leucobronchialis  feeds  two  young,  one 
typical  of  pinus,  the  other  like  pinus  but  with  yellow  wing-bars. 
(Bishop^). 

Portland,  Conn.  V .  pinus,  $  breeds  with  V .  chrysoptera  2  ,  the 
five  young  resemble  those  of  pinus.  (Sage1-). 

Portland,  Conn.  V .  leucobronchialis  2  breeds  with  V.  chrys- 
optera $  ;  nest  and  eggs  taken.  (Sage13). 

Discussion  of  Status. — The  relationships  of  these  Warblers  have 
been  the  subject  of  much  discussion.  It  has  been  stated  of  one  or 
the  other  or  both,  that  they  were  distinct  species,  hybrids,  color 
phases,  and  mutants,  but,  we  may  now  be  said  to  have  passed  the 
purely  theoretical  stage  in  our  study  of  these  birds,  incontrovertible 
observations  and  large  series  of  specimens  furnishing  us  with  defin- 


76  BREWSTER'S   WARBLER 

itely  ascertained  facts.  The  interbreeding  of  leucobronchialis  with 
pinus,  and  with  chrysoptera,  of  pintts  with  chrysoptera,  and  of  lan-rencd 
with  />I'HMJ  is  recorded  on  unquestionable  evidence.  Here  alone,  there- 
fore, we  have  indisputable  knowledge  of  sets  of  relations  which  in 
their  subsequent  stages  are  bound  to  produce  the  most  varied  results, 
accounting  for  every  phase  of  plumage  of  the  lawrencei  type  of  which 
we  have  any  knowledge. 

Doubtless  our  most  satisfactory  observations  in  this  connection 
have  been  supplied  by  Dr.  Walter  Faxon  who  writes:  "In  the  summer 
of  1910,  there  bred  within  the  confines  of  a  camp  of  about  fifteen 
acres  in  Lexington,  Mass.,  a  pair  of  Golden-winged  Warblers  and  two 
male  Golden- winged  Warblers  mated  with  two  female  Brewster's 
Warblers.  .  .  The  progeny  of  the  three  pairs  were  closely  observed 
from  the  juvenile  (in  one  case,  from  the  natal)  plumage  up  to  the 
first  winter  plumage,  when  the  adult  characters  were  acquired ;  the 
young  of  the  pair  of  Golden-wings  were  all  Golden-wings ;  one  of  the 
Brewster's  Warblers  that  was  mated  with  a  Golden-wing  brought  forth 
a  homogeneous  brood  of  Brewster's  Warblers,  while  the  other  pro- 
duced a  mixed  brood  of  Brewster's  Warblers  and  at  least  one  Golden- 
winged  Warbler.  A  striking  thing  about  it  was  this :  the  young  birds 
of  mixed  parentage  were  absolutely  pure  in  plumage, — either  Brew- 
ster's Warblers  or  Golden-wings,  without  any  tendency  to  combine  as 
'intermediates'  the  characters  of  the  two  parents."  (Mem.  Mus.  Comp. 
Zool.,  XL,  No.  6,  Aug.  1913,  311.) 

Two  years  later,  in  the  same  locality,  Dr.  Faxon  (1.  c.)  made 
even  more  definite  and  conclusive  observations  in  regard  to  the  breed- 
ing of  these  birds  which  apparently  fully  justify  his  "satisfaction  of 
demonstrating  the  true  nature  of  Brewster's  Warbler,  removing  the 
question  forever  from  the  realm  of  conjecture." 

In  a  word,  he  found  a  typical  male  Golden-winged  Warbler  mated 
with  a  typical  Blue- winged  Warbler,  and  kept  their  young  (number 
not  stated)  under  observation  from  June  15,  about  two  days  after  they 
had  left  the  nest,  until  they  "all  grew  up  to  be  Brewster's  Warblers." 

The  same  season  a  male  Brewster's  Warbler  was  found  mated 
to  a  female  Golden-wing  and  of  their  young  one  "grew  up  to  be  a 
typical  Brewster's  Warbler,  while  the  other,  its  own  brother,  became 
a  typical  Golden-wing."  These  two  birds  and  one  from  the  brood  first 
mentioned  were  banded,  and  a  beginning  was  thus  made  for  the  study 
of  succeeding  generations. 


BACHMAN'S  WARBLER  77 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  On  the  Relationship  of  Helminthophaga  leucobron- 
chialis  Brewster,  and  Helminthophaga  lawrencei,  Herrick,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club, 

VI,  1880,   218.      (2)    R.    RIDGWAY,   Helminthophila    leucobronchialis,    (and    H. 
lawrencei;  a  discussion  of  their  relationships),  Auk,  II,  1885,  359.     (3)   A.  K. 
FISHER,  Evidence  Concerning  the  Interbreeding  of  Helminthophila  chrysoptera 
and  H.  pinus  (at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.),  Auk,  II,  1885,  378.     (4)   F.  M.  CHAPMAN, 
Additional  Captures  of  Helminthophila  leucobronchialis  (at  Englewood,  N.  J.)> 
Auk,  IV,   1887.  348.     (5)    The  Song  of  Helminthophila  leucobronchialis,  Auk, 

VII,  1890,    291.     (6)     On    the    Breeding    of    Helminthophila    pinus    with    H. 
leucobronchialis  at  Englewood,  N.  J.,  Auk,  IX,  1892,  302.     (7)   E.  H.  EAMES, 
Notes  on  Helminthophila  leucobronchialis  (in  Conn.),  Auk,  V,  1888,  427.     (8) 
Notes  on  the  Blue-winged  Warbler  and  its  Allies,   (Helminthophila  pinus,  H. 
leucobronchialis,  H.  lawrencei,  and  H.   chrysoptera)   in  Connecticut,   Auk,  VI, 
1889,  305.     (9)  L.  3.  BISHOP,  Helminthophila  pinus,  H.  chrysoptera,  H.  leuco- 
bronchialis, H.  lawrencei,  in  Connecticut  in  the  Spring  of  1888,  Auk,  VI,  1889, 
192.      (10)    Helminthophila    leucobronchialis    (breeding   in    Conn.),    Auk,    XI, 
1894,  79.     (n)  The  Status  of  Helminthophila  leucobronchialis  and  Helmintho- 
phila lawrencei,  Auk,  XXII,  1905,  21.     (12)   J.  H.  SAGE,  The  Interbreeding  of 
Helminthophila  pinus  and  H.  chrysoptera,  (at  Portland,  Conn.),  Auk  VI,  1899, 
29°-      O3)    Notes   on  Helminthophila   chrysoptera,  pinus,   leucobronchialis  and 
lawrencei  in  Connecticut,  Auk,  X,  1893,  208.     (14)   Nesting  of  Helminthophila 
leucobronchialis  in  Connecticut,  Auk,  XII,  1895,  307.    (15)   G.  H.  THAYER,  The 
Coloration  and  Relationships  of  Brewster's  Warbler,  Auk,  XIX,  1902,  401.     (16) 
I.  BILDERSEE,  Notes  on  the  Nesting  of  Lawrence's  Warbler,  Bird-Lore,  VI,  1904, 
131.     (17)  C.  WM.  BEEBE,  Breeding  of  Lawrence's  Warbler  in  New  York  City, 
Auk,  XXI,  1904,  387.     Relates  to  the  same  bird  as  No.  16.    (18)  W.  E.  D.  SCOTT, 
Of  the  Probable  Origin  of  Certain  Birds,  Science,  XXII,  1905,  271.     (19)  J.  A. 
ALLEN,  The  Probable  Origin  of  Certain  Birds,  Science,  XXII,  1905,  431.     (A 
reply  to  Scott.)  (20)  J.  DWIGHT,  JR.,  Plumages  and  Molts  of  the  Passerine  Birds 
of  New  York,  1900,  246.    (21)  J.  C.  A.  MEEKER,  A  Male  Golden-winged  Warb- 
ler mated  with  a  female  Blue-winged  Warbler,  Auk,  XXIII,  1906,   104.     (22) 
C.  J.  MAYNARD,  (Discussion  of  status  of  Brewster's  and  Lawrence's  Warblers) 
Warblers  of  New  England,  1905,  83. 

BACHMAN'S  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA   BACHMANI   (Aud.)     Plate  IV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Bill  slightly  decurved ;  c?  with  the  forehead, 
throat,  or,  at  least,  chin  yellow,  the  breast  black;  ?  with  forehead  more  or  less 
tinged  with  yellow,  the  feathers  of  the  crown  wholly  gray.  The  young  $,  with 
but  little  yellow  below,  resembles  the  young  of  the  Orange-crowned  and  Ten- 
nessee Warblers.  It  differs  from  the  former  chiefly  in  the  yellowish  frontlet, 
entirely  gray  crown-feathers,  and  white  crissum ;  while  the  Tennessee  Warbler 
is  greener  above  with  the  head  the  same  color  as  the  back.  The  c?  apparently 
does  not  acquire  mature  plumage  until  the  second  year.  Length  (skin),  4.40; 
wing,  2.40;  tail,  1.80;  bill,  .48. 


y8  BACHMAN'S  WARBLER 

Adult  <f,  Spring. — Forehead  broadly  yellow,  bordered  by  a  black  band 
across  the  crown;  eye-ring  yellow;  hindhead  and  nape  gray;  back  olive-green; 
tail  fuscous,  the  outer  three,  and  sometimes  all  but  the  middle  pair  of  feathers, 
with  white  patches  on  the  inner  web  near  the  tip ;  wings  margined  with  gray 
•on  primaries,  olive-green  on  other  feathers;  lesser  coverts  and  bend  of  wing 
bright  yellow,  no  white  bars;  chin,  sides  and,  sometimes,  upper  part  of  throat 
yellow;  lower  throat  and  breast  black,  belly  yellow  usually  becoming  brownish 
white  on  the  lower  belly  and  crissum. 

Adult  d,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  black  of  crown  widely 
tipped  with  gray,  black  breast  narrowly  tipped  with  yellow  and  grayish. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Throat-patch  smaller  than  in  adult  <£  less  black  or  none  on 
the  head ;  throat-patch  tipped  with  yellowish  or  grayish ;  less  white,  or  none, 
in  the  tail. 

Young  <$,  Spring. — Not  appreciably  different  from  young  c?  in  Fall,  the  full 
black  breast-patch  and  frontlet  evidently  not  being  acquired  the  first  year. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Forehead  and  eye-ring  yellowish;  crown  and  nape  gray; 
back  olive-green ;  tail  fuscous  with  little  or  no  white  on  inner  vanes  of  outer 
feathers ;  wings  as  in  <£  but  lesser  coverts  olive-green ;  underparts  yellow,  fading 
to  brownish  white  on  the  lower  belly  and  crissum ;  a  dusky  wash  on  the  breast, 
where,  in  some  specimens,  there  is  a  more  or  less  well-developed  black  patch. 

Adult  ?,  Fall.— Resembles  adult  $  in  Spring. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring,  but  with  less  yellow  on  fore- 
head and  underparts;  back  grayer;  below  dusky  yellowish. 

Young  $,  Spring.— Similar  to  young  $  in  Fall. 

Nestling. — A  c?,  passing  from  nestling  to  first  Fall  plumage,  taken  by  A.  T 
Wayne  near  Charleston,  S.  C,  is  described  by  William  Brewster  as  follows: 

"Top  and  sides  of  head  and  forepart  of  back  faded  hair  brown  with  a 
trace  of  ashy  on  the  middle  of  crown;  remainder  of  upper  parts  dull  olive-green; 
wings  and  tail  (which  are  fully  grown)  as  in  the  first  winter  plumage  except- 
ing that  the  greater  and  middle  wing-coverts  are  rather  more  broadly  tipped 
with  light  brown,  forming  two  well-marked  wing-bars;  chin  and  throat 
brownish  white  tinged  with  yellow;  sides  of  jugulum  smoke  gra)',  its  center 
yellowish;  sides  of  breast  gamboge  yellow  shading  into  olive  on  the  flanks; 
middle  of  breast,  with  most  of  abdomen,  yellowish  white;  under  tail-coverts 
ashy  white.  All  the  feathers  on  the  under  parts  which  are  strongly  yellow  or 
olive,  and  those  on  the  upper  parts,  which  are  decidedly  ashy,  or  greenish, 
appear  to  belong  to  the  autumnal  plumage  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  the  first 
winter  plumage,  but  all  the  other  feathers  on  the  head  and  body  are  evidently 
rthosc  of  the  first  plumage."  (The  Auk,  1905,  p.  393.) 

General  Distribution. — Southeastern  United  States,  north  to 
Missouri  and  North  Carolina;  south  in  winter  to  West  Indies. 

Summer  Range. — This  Warbler  has  been  secured  in  the  breed- 
ing season  in  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Kentucky,  Arkansas 
;-n<l  Missouri;  as  a  young  of  the  year  in  Virginia;  during  migration 
Jn  Florida  and  Louisiana.  Accidental  in  Indiana. 

Winter  Range. — So  far  as  known,  Cuba. 


BACHMAN'S  WARBLER  79 

Spring  Migration. — One  of  the  earliest  migrants ;  it  crosses  to  the 
United  States  in  March;  Sombrero  Key,  Fla.,  March  3,  1899, 
Suwanee  River,  Fla.,  March  12,  1890,  Branford,  Fla.,  March  14, 
1892,  Old  Town,  Fla.,  March  10,  1893,  Wacissa  River,  Fla.,  March 
13,  1894,  Leon  County,  Fla.,  March  22,  1904;  Bay  St.  Louis,  Miss., 
March  26,  1902 ;  Lake  Pontchartrain,  La.,  February  27  to  March  14, 
1891. 

Fall  Migration. — The  southward  migration  begins  so  early  that 
in  July  many  individuals  reach  their  winter  quarters.  Earliest  record 
at  Key  West,  Fla.,  July  17,  1889;  latest  September  5,  1888. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  many  respects  the  history  of 
Bachman's  Warbler  is  not  unlike  that  of  Swainson's.  Both  were 
discovered  near  Charleston,  S.  C,  by  that  keen  naturalist,  Dr.  Bach- 
man,  and  both  remained  virtually  unknown  for  the  succeeding  half 
century.  Bachman  procured  "a  few  specimens"  of  this  bird  in  the 
summer  of  1833  and  sent  them  to  Audubon,  who  described  the  species 
the  following  year  in  the  second  volume  of  his  Ornithological 
Biographies. 

With  the  exception  of  its  occurrence  in  Cuba,  the  Warbler 
remained  unknown  to  naturalists  until  October,  1886,  when  Charles 
S.  Galbraith,  a  millinery  collector,  brought  to  George  N.  Lawrence 
a  specimen  which  he  had  secured  the  preceding  spring  near  Lake 
Pontchartrain,  La.  This  specimen,  now  in  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  is  prepared  for  a  hat-piece.  The  feet  are  missing, 
the  wings  are  stiffly  distended,  the  head  bent  backward  in  typical 
bonnet  pose,  and,  had  it  not  been  for  an  interest  in  ornithology  which 
led  Galbraith  to  take  his  unknown  birds  to  Mr.  Lawrence  for  identifi- 
cation, this  rara  avis  might  have  become  an  unappreciated  victim  on 
Fashion's  altar. 

In  any  event,  it  was  decreed  that  Bachman's  Warbler  should  no 
longer  remain  among  the  'lost  species'  and  the  following  spring  it 
was  brought  to  the  attention  of  ornithologists,  again  in  an  unconven- 
tional manner,  through  an  individual  which  struck  the  Sombrero  Key 
lighthouse,  off  southern  Florida,  March  21  (Merriam*}. 

Galbraith2,  also,  procured  six  additional  specimens  in  Louisiana, 
and  the  efforts  of  collectors  being  now  especially  directed  toward  this 
species,  it  proved  to  be  an  abundant  migrant  in  Florida  and  southern 
Louisiana.  Atkins4  reported  it  from  Key  West  in  late  July  and  early 
August,  Chapman6  from  Brevard  County,  Florida,  in  March,  and 
Brewster7  and  Chapman  from  the  lower  Suwanee  River  in  the  same 
month. 


8o  BACH  MAN'S  WARBLER 

Eleven  years  passed  after  the  re-discovery  of  this  Warbler  before 
its  nest  was  found  when,  as  related  beyond,  the  well-directed 
researches  of  Otto  Widmann8  established  the  species  as  breeding  com- 
monly in  the  St.  Francis  River  region  of  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 

As  with  most  Warblers  the  character  of  the  haunts  of  Bachman's 
Warbler  during  migration  depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  country 
through  which  it  is  passing.  At  Key  West,  where  the  forest  is  low 
and  with  undergrowth,  Atkins5  found  it  "alike  in  trees,  low  bushes, 
and  shrubbery,  sometimes  on,  or  quite  near  the  ground,"  but  it  seemed 
"to  prefer  the  heavy  and  more  thickly  grown  woods  to  trees  or 
bushes  more  in  the  open."  But  on  the  banks  of  the  Suwanee,  where 
the  trees  were  exceptionally  high  and  with  little  or  no  undergrowth, 
the  bird  was  rarely  found  below  the  upper  branches,  usually  of 
cypress  trees,  where  it  was  associated  with  other  migrating  Warblers. 

Very  different  are  the  bird's  breeding  haunts  in  the  wet,  forested 
bottom-lands  of  the  St.  Francis  River  region,  as  described  by  Wid- 
mann8, with  their  "blackberry  brambles  among  a  medley  of  half- 
decayed  and  lately  felled  tree-tops,  lying  in  pools  of  water." 

Atkins6,  writing  of  southbound  migrants  at  Key  West,  speaks  of 
them  as  "active  and  constantly  in  motion,"  but  Mr.  Brewster7  and  I 
found  the  many  individuals  which  we  saw  in  March,  on  the  Suwanee, 
to  be  rather  deliberate  in  their  movements,  resembling,  in  this  respect, 
the  Blue-winged  Warbler.  At  times  they  hung  back  downward, 
titmouse-like,  as  they  explored  the  under  surface  of  a  leaf,  or,  again, 
they  penetrated  a  bunch  of  hanging  leaves. 

Widmann8,  writing  of  the  species  on  its  breeding  ground,  says 
it  may  be  "easily  overlooked,  even  in  a  region  where  it  is  common. 
Its  small  size,  its  protective  coloration,  and  its  quiet  ways,  combine 
to  make  it  next  to  invisible  among  the  heavy  foliage  of  its  habitat. 
*  *  *  Even  if  in  song  it  takes  minutes  to  find  the  bird,  though  he 
is  generally  seated  on  a  dry,  or  thinly-leafed  branch  at  a  height  of 
twenty  to  forty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  reason  why  it  is  so 
difficult  to  locate  him  is  his  habit  of  pouring  out  his  song  into 
different  directions,  now  to  the  right,  then  to  the  left,  even  turning 
entirely  around  on  his  perch.  When  he  leaves  he  is  liable  to  fly  quite 
a  distance,  far  enough  to  get  lost  out  of  sight  for  the  moment,  and  in 
the  wildness  of  his  home,  it  takes  several  minutes  to  follow  him  over 
fallen  trees,  and  around  impenetrable  thickets  or  pools  of  water." 

Wayne"  writes:  "Bachman's  Warbler  is  a  high-ranging  bird,  like 
the  Yellow-throated  Warbler,  and  generally  sings  from  the  top  of 
a  sweet  gum  or  cypress.  It  a-)  wars  to  have  regular  singing  stations 


BACHMAN'S   WARBLER  8l 

during  the  breeding  season,  and  upon  leaving  a  tree,  it  flies  a  long 
distance  before  alighting.  *  *  *  I  have  occasionally  seen  the 
males  in  low  gall-berry  bushes  within  six  or  eight  inches  of  the 
ground,  but  their  usual  resorts  are  among  the  topmost  branches  of 
the  tallest  trees." 


''The  song  is  unlike  that  of  any  other  species  of  Helmin- 
thophila  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  and  most  resembles  the  song  of 
the  Parula  Warbler.  It  is  of  the  same  length  and  of  nearly  the  same 
quality  or  tone,  but  eight  notes  being  given  in  the  same  key  and  with 
equal  emphasis.  Despite  these  differences  it  would  be  possible  to 
mistake  the  performance,  especially  at  a  distance,  for  that  of  a  Parula 
singing  listlessly.  The  voice,  though  neither  loud  nor  musical,  is 
penetrating  and  seems  to  carry  as  far  as  most  Warblers'.  Besides 
the  song  the  only  note  which  we  certainly  identified  was  a  low,  hissing 
zee-e-eep,  very  like  that  of  the  Black-and-White  Warbler." 
(Brewster.7) 

Mr.  Otto  Widmann8  writes  of  a  male  under  his  observation  for 
eight  hours  "the  bird  kept  singing  nearly  all  the  time  at  the  rate  of 
ten  times  a  minute  with  the  regularity  of  clockwork,  and  the  sharp 
rattling  notes  reminded  me  of  an  alarm  clock.  In  this  regard  it  recalls 
one  of  the  performances  of  Parula,  whose  rattle  is  of  the  same  length 
and  quality,  except  that  it  has  a  certain  rise  at  the  end,  by  which  it  is 
easily  distinguished.  To  my  ear  the  Bachman's  song  comes  nearest 
to  that  of  the  Worm-eating  Warbler,  which  is  fortunately  not  found 
in  swampland,  but  the  Chipping  Sparrow  is,  and,  if  the  presence  of 
the  Bachman's  Warbler  is  not  suspected,  it  is  indeed  possible  to 
mistake  its  song  for  a  shrill  variety  of  the  Chippy's  well-known  ditty." 

"The  song  is  wiry  or  insect-like,  and  resembles  the  song  of  the 
Worm-eating  Warbler  very  closely,  while  it  also  bears  a  strong 
resemblance  to  the  song  of  the  Parula  Warbler  and  Chipping  Spar- 
row" (  Wayne12}  .  Embody,11  also,  compares  the  song  to  that  of  a  Chip- 
ping Sparrow. 

Nesting  Site.—  Bailey's  description  of  the  supposed  nesting  site 
and  eggs  of  this  species  (Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VIII,  1883,  38)  is 
evidently  based  on  a  collector's  error  and  credit  for  the  discovery  of 
the  nest  and  eggs  of  Bachman's  Warbler  belongs  to  Otto  Widmann3 
who  found  them  on  May  14,  1897  in  Dunklin  County,  Missouri. 
The  nest  was  two  feet  from  the  ground  and  "was  tied  very  slightly 
to  a  vertical  blackberry  vine  of  fresh  growth  and  rested  lightly  on 
another  which  crossed  the  former  at  a  nearly  right  angle.  From 


82  BACHMAN'S  WARBLER 

above  it  was  entirely  hidden  by  branchlets  of  latest  growth  and  the 
hand  could  not  be  inserted  without  first  cutting  several  vines."  A 
second  nest,  was  taken  by  Mr.  Widmann,  in  Dunklin  County,  May 
13,  1898  and  is  recorded  by  Short10  as  similar  in  structure  to  the  type 
nest  and  like  it  placed  in  a  blackberry  bush,  where  it  was  not  "attached 
to  the  branches  but  simply  supported  between  half  a  dozen  of  them." 

Since  the  above  was  written  Bachman's  Warbler  has  been  found 
breeding  by  Wayne  on  April  17,  1906  and  later  dates,  near  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  and  by  Embody,  on  May  14,  1906,  in  Logan  County,  Ky. 
In  both  instances  the  birds  inhabited  heavily  timbered,  swampy  land 
with  more  or  less  stagnant  water.  The  nests  were  in  low  bushes, 
briers,  or  canes  and  were  one  to  three  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest. — The  first  nest  found  by  Widmann  is  described  by  Ridg- 
way9  as  a  "somewhat  compressed,  compact  mass  composed  externally 
of  dried  weed  and  grass-stalks  and  dead  leaves,  many  of  the  latter 
partly  skeletonized;  internally  composed  of  rather  fine  weed  and 
grass-stalks,  lined  with  black  fibers,  apparently  dead  threads  of  the 
black  pendant  lichens  (Ramalina,  species?)  which  hang  in  beard-like 
tufts  from  button-bushes  (Cephalanthus),  and  other  shrubs  growing 
in  wetter  portions  of  the  western  bottom  lands.  The  height  of  the 
nest  is  about  three  and  one-half  inches ;  the  greatest  breadth  is  about 
four  inches,  its  width  in  the  opposite  direction  being  about  three  inches. 
The  cavity  is  about  one  and  one-half  inches  deep  and  one  and  one- 
half  by  two  inches  wide."  Six  nests  found  by  Wayne  are  described  as 
being  chiefly  constructed  of  fine  grass,  cane  leaves,  and  skeletonized 
leaves  of  other  kinds,  and  some  contained  Spanish  'moss'. 

Eggs. — Both  the  nests  discovered  by  Widmann  contained  three 
eggs  which,  as  they  were  left  until  the  bird  began  to  sit,  evidently 
constituted  a  complete  set.  Wayne,  however,  found  two  nests  each 
with  four  eggs.  The  eggs  of  Widmann's  first  set  are  described  by 
Ridgway9  as  "of  very  regular  ovate  form  and  entirely  pure  white 
in  color."  They  measured  .63x48;  .64x49;  .63x49.  The  eggs  of 
the  second  set  are  described  by  Short4  as  "pure  china  white  and 
glossy."  In  size  they  agreed  with  those  of  the  first  set. 

Nesting  Dates.— Dunklin  County,  Mo.,  May   13  and   17 
mann};  Logan  Co.,   Ky.,   May    14    (Embody} ;   Charleston,   S.    C, 
April  17;  May  13,  two  young,  Juvenal  plumage  (Wayne}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 
(I)    GEO.   N.  LAWRENCE,  The    Redisco^ry  of   Bachman's  Warbler   in   the 


TENNESSEE  WARBLER  8$ 

United  States,  Auk,  IV,  1887,  35.  (2)  Ibid.,  262.  (3)  C.  HART  MERRIAM, 
Another  Specimen  of  Bachman's  Warbler,  Auk,  IV,  1887,  262.  (4)  W.  E.  D. 
SCOTT,  Bachman's  Warbler  at  Key  West,  Florida,  in  July  and  August,  Auk, 
V,  1888,  428;  also  (5)  ibid.,  VII,  1890,  313.  (6)  FRANK  M.  CHAPMAN,  Hel- 
ininthophila  bachmani  on  the  East  coast  of  Florida,  Auk,  VI,  1889,  278.  (7) 
WM.  BREWSTER,  Notes  on  Bachman's  Warbler  [in  Florida],  Auk,  VIII,  1891, 
149.  (8)  O.  WIDMANN,  The  Summer  Home  of  Bachman's  Warbler  No 
Longer  Unknown.  A  Common  Breeder  in  the  St.  Francis  River  Region  of 
Southeastern  Missouri  and  Northeastern' Arkansas,  Auk,  XIV,  1897.  305.  (9) 
R.  RIDGWAY,  Description  of  the  Nest  and  Eggs  of  Bachman's  Warbler,  Auk,. 
XIV,  1897,  309.  (10)  E.  H.  SHORT,  Bachman's  Warbler,  Oologist,  XXIL 
1905,  103.  (n)  GEO.  C.  EMBODY,  Bachman's  Warbler  Breeding  in  Logan 
County,  Kentucky,  The  Auk,  XXIV,  Jan.  1907.  (12)  A.  T.  WAYNE,  The 
Nest  and  Eggs  of  Bachman's  Warbler  taken  near  Charleston,  S.  C.,  Aukr 
XXIV,  Jan.  1907. 


TENNESSEE  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  PEREGRINA  (Wils.)    Plate  VII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — No  conspicuous  wing-bars ;  adult  <$  grayish- 
white  below,  crown  and  nape  bluish  gray;  adult  9  with  crown  greener,  and 
tinged  with  yellow  below;  young  greenish  yellow  below,  above  entirely  yellow 
olive-green.  Length  (skin),  4.40;  wing,  2.60;  tail,  1.70;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  and  nape  grayish  blue  the  former  rarely  with 
traces  of  chestnut,  a  whitish  line  above  the  eye  and.  usually,  a  dti<=kv  line 
through  it;  back  bright  olive-green;  tail  edged  with  olive-green,  the  two  outer 
feathers  usually  with  more  or  less  dull  white  at  the  end  of  the  inner  vane; 
secondaries  edged  with  olive-green,  the  median  and  greater  coverts  narrowly 
tipped  with  paler  green  or  greenish  white ;  underparts  grayish  white,  the 
breast  often  tinged  with  buff  or  yellowish,  the  sides  with  greenish. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d"  in  Spring,  but  crown  tipped  with  olive- 
green,  underparts  with  more  buffy  or  greenish. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — No  gray  on  crown,  upper  parts  entirely  bright  olive-green : 
line  over  eye  yellowish ;  underparts  greenish  yellow,  whiter  on  the  belly  and1 
crissum;  wings  and  tail  as  in  the  adult. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  crown  washed  with 
olive-green,  underparts  more  yellowish;  closely  resembling,  therefore,  the  adult 
<t  in  Fall. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — No  gray  on  crown;  upperparts  entirely  bright  olive-green, 
below  white  washed  with  yellow;  resembles  young  J  in  Fall  but  averages  less 
bright  above  and  less  yellow  below. 

Young  $,  Fall.— Resembles  adult  $  in  Fall  but  brighter  above  and  ycllo'ver 
below ;  not  always  distinguishable  from  young  3  in  Fall  but  averaging  yellower 
below. 

Nestling.— Dusky  olive-green  above,  dusky  yellowish  white  below;  greater 
and  median  coverts  rather  broadly  tipped  with  whitish. 


TENNESSEE  WARBLER 


General  Distribution. — North  America;  north  to  Labrador  and 
Alaska;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  British  Columbia. 

Summer  Range. — New  Hampshire  (White  Mountains,  Lake 
Umbagog) ;  Maine  (Androscoggin,  Penobscot,  Piscataquis  and 
Washington  Counties)  ;  northern  New  York  (Lewis  County)  ;  north- 
eastern Minnesota;  eastern  British  Columbia  (Carpenter  Mountain), 
and  north  to  the  upper  Yukon  Valley,  Labrador,  and  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  Accidental  in  California  (Pasadena,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1897). 

The  species  is  most  common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  in  its 
migrations,  and  extends  west  rarely  to  Colorado;  it  is  not  common 
anywhere  east  of  Allegheny  Mountains,  but  occurs  rarely  throughout 
all  of  eastern  United  States.  Accidental  in  West  Indies. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Mexico  to  Venezuela. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Rising  Fawn,   Ga  

April  26,  1885 

Beaver,    Pa 

May      Q 

May      5,  1902 

Central  New  York    

May     13 

May      8,  1887 

Eastern    Massachusetts    

May     14 

May     13,  1900 

Corpus  Christi,  Texas 

April    3,  1891 

San  Antonio,  Texas   

April  21,  1891 

St.   Louis,   Mo  

April  24,  1886 

Brookville,    Ind 

7 

April  20,  1884 

Chicago,    111  

3 

Mav      o 

April  30,  1897 

Southern   Wisconsin    

5 

May    1  6 

May    14,  1885 

Southern   Michigan 

May     12,  1894 

Ottawa,  Ont  

g 

May     1  6 

May     12,  1901 

Grinnell,    Iowa    . 

f. 

Mav      «; 

May      i,  1887 

Lanesboro,  Minn  

5 

May     ii 

May      7,  1885 

Lincoln,   Neb.    .  .  . 

Mav      7 

Aweme,   Manitoba   

3 

May     13    1903 

Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie   

2 

May    29 

May    26.  i8>x> 

Caribou.  B.  C  

May    22    IQOI 

Fall  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
yeors' 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Hallock,  Minn.    .  . 

August    2,  1899 

Mackinac  Island,  Mich  

August    8,  1889 

Chicavjo,  111 

5 

August  13,  1896 

Engk-wood,  N.  J 

August  26,  1887 

Washington,  D.   C  
Key  West,  Fla 

August  31,  1890 
October   5,  1887 

New  Orleans,  La  

•i 

September  21 

September  18,  1899 

TENNESSEE  WARBLER 


PI.ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of  last 
one  seen 

Aweme,   Manitoba   

October    3,  1901 

Grinnell,    Iowa    

October    i,  1886 

Ottawa,  Ont  

September  30,  1889 

Chicago    111 

5 

October    2 

October    9    1894 

Beaver,   Pa  

4 

September  30 

October  n,  1890 

Washington,  D.  C  

October  12,  1890 

St    Louis    Mo 

October  20    1885 

Asheville    N    C 

October  29    1894 

New  Orleans    La 

6 

October  28 

November  3    1900 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts.— The  Tennessee  Warbler  awaits  a 
biographer.  We  know  that  generally  it  is  rather  rare  in  spring  but 
sometimes  not  uncommon  in  fall,  and  that  during  its  migrations  it  is 
associated  with  other  arboreal  Warblers. 

In  the  summer  Maynard1  found  it  to  be  very  common  in  wooded 
localities  about  Umbagog,  the  male,  while  singing  being  perched  on 
some  high  dead  branch.  Faxon*  who  found  a  singing  male  of  this 
species  in  a  "thick  growth  of  black  spruce,  balsam  fir,  and  mountain 
ash"  on  Graylock  Peak,  Mass.,  on  July  15,1888,  quotes  Brewster  as 
saying  that  he  found  it  "in  a  white  spruce  and  larch  swamp  in 
Anticosti"  and  that  at  Lake  Umbagog  he  observed  it  in  "larch  swamps, 
but  sometimes  on  mountain  sides — always  among  coniferous  trees." 
Merriam2,  however,  writes  that  in  the  Adirondack  region  it  "generally 
prefers  hardwood  areas." 

In  British  Columbia  Brooks,  as  recorded  by  Norris5,  found  the 
bird  breeding  in  "clumps  of  aspen  trees  and  Norway  pines,  where  the 
ground  was  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  dry  pine  grass." 

About  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  writes  that  the  Tennessee 
Warbler  is  "very  rare,  and  seemingly  irregular.  It  haunts  blossoming 
apple  trees,  big  elms,  and  roadside  copses  of  mixed  deciduous  second 
growth.  This  most  un-warbler-colored  little  Warbler  seems  to  have 
pretty  nearly  the  same  general  habits  and  demeanor  as  the  nervous, 
yellow-breasted  Nashville,— though  it  is  perhaps  a  little  less  restless, 
— and  the  only  one  of  its  call-notes  I  have  heard  is  almost  exactly 
like  the  Nashville's  least  peculiar  call."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Song. — "Its  song  begins  with  a  note  like  chipiti,  chipiti  repeated  a 
dozen  or  more  times,  with  increasing  rapidity,  then  suddenly  changed 
into  a  mere  twitter."  (Scion1.") 

"Often  sings  in  migration  a  very  loud  song,  beginning  with  a 
sawing  two-noted  trill,  rather  harsh  and  very  staccato,  but  hesitating 


86  ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER 

in  character,  increasing  to  a  rapid  trill,  almost  exactly  like  a  Chip- 
ping Sparrow's.  A  noticeable  but  not  musical  song."  (Farwell,  MS.) 

"The  Tennessee  is  easily  discovered  and  identified  by  its  peculiar 
song; — a  twittering,  semi-trilled,  rather  prolonged  utterance  of  three 
parts,  not  very  unlike  some  of  the  weaker  and  buzzier  strains  of  the 
American  Goldfinch's  song.  Its  tone  is  ambiguous— hard  to  place 
between  full  and  feeble,  wheezy  and  clear.  On  the  whole,  however, 
the  song  is  a  decidedly  noticeable  one.  Having  heard  the  Tennes- 
see but  seldom,  I  know  only  one  main  song,  with  no  important  varia- 
tions, and  cannot  even  describe  that  one  very  closely."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site.-— Little  appears  to  be  known  about  the  nesting 
habits  of  this  Warbler.  Norris6  recording  the  observations  of  Allan 
Brooks  in  British  Columbia,  writes:  "The  nests  were  always  on  the 
ground,  sometimes  at  the  foot  of  a  small  service  berry  bush  or  twig. 
They  were  all  arched  over  by  the  dry  pine  grass  of  the  preceeding 
year;  this  year's  growth  having  just  commenced." 

Nest. — "The  nest  is  small  and  loosely '  constructed,  being  quite 
flat.  It  is  composed  outwardly  of  a  few  leaves,  a  little  moss,  and  a 
good  deal  of  fine  grass,  lined  only  with  the  latter  material."  (Norris5.} 

Eggs. — 4.  "The  eggs  seem  to  differ  in  appearance  from  any  of  the 
same  genus  that  I  have  seen,  and  may  be  thus  described:  Creamy 
white,  finely  speckled  all  over  the  surface  with  reddish  brown,  and 
also  marked  with  larger  spots  of  the  same  color,  more  heavily  at  the 
larger  end.  There  are  also  a  number  of  spots  of  light  lilac  which  are 
not  conspicuous.  They  measure  .57x48;  .65x46;  .59x47;  .61x46." 
(Norris*) 

Nesting  Dates. — Bangor,  Me.,  June  4  (Knight)  ;  Caribou,  B.  C., 
June  15,  newly  hatched  young  (Norris). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  C.  J.  MAYNARD,  Birds  of  Coos  Co.,  N.  H.,  and  Oxford  Co.,  Me., 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.,  N.  H.,  XIV,  1871,  7.  (2)  C.  HART  MERRIAM,  Birds  of  the 
Adirondack  Region,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club.  VI,  1881,  227.  (3)  ERNEST  THOMP- 
SON SETON,  Birds  of  Manitoba,  Proc.  U.  S.  N.  M.,  1891,  617.  (4)  W.  FAXON, 
On  the  Summer  Birds  of  Berkshire  County,  Massachusetts,  Auk,  VI,  1889,  102. 
(5)  J.  PARKER  NORRIS,  JR.,  Nesting  of  the  Tennessee  Warbler  in  British  Colum- 
bia, Auk,  XIX,  1902,  88. 

ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  CELATA  CELATA  (S»y)     Plate  VII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — General  color  dusky  olive-green,  the  under- 
parts  obscurely  streaked;  adult  c?,  and  often  ?,  with  an  orange-brown  crown- 


PLATE  VII 


1.  TENNESSEE  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  TENNESSEE  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

3.  ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER,  MALE. 


4.  ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER,  FEMALE 

5.  NASHVILLE  WARBLER,  MALE. 

6.  NASHVILLE  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER  87 

patch;  virtually  no  white  in  wings  or  tail.  For  comparison  with  young  of 
Bachman's  Warbler  see  under  that  species.  Length  (skin),  4.50;  wing,  2.45; 
tail,  1.90;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring.— Upper  parts  olive-green  tipped  with  grayish,  except  on 
rump;  an  orange-brown  crown-patch  tipped  with  olive-green  and  gray;  eye- 
ring  and  a  narrow  line  from  bill  to  above  eye,  yellow  or  yellowish;  tail  exter- 
nally olive-green,  inner  margin  of  inner  vane  of  outer  feathers  often  white- 
edged;  wings  edged  with  olive-green,  their  bend  yellow;  underparts  dusky 
greenish  yellow  indistinctly  streaked. 

Adult  <$,  Fall.— Similar  to  above,  but  grayish  tips  to  feathers  above  and 
below  longer,  making  the  bird  duskier. 

Young  <$,  Fall— Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Fall,  but  crown-patch  very  small  or 
entirely  absent. 

Adult  ?,  Spring.— Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring,  but  crown-patch  smaller 
or  wanting. 

Adult  $,  Fall— Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring,  but  grayish  tips  to  feathers 
above  and  below  longer,  making  the  bird  duskier. 

Young  ?,  Fall— Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall,  but  crown-patch  always  (?) 
absent. 

Nestling. — "Above  dull  olive,  or  grayish  olive,  becoming  more  olive-green- 
ish or  russet-olive  on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts;  middle  and  greater  wing- 
coverts  tipped,  more  or  less  distinctly,  with  paler  olive  or  dull  buffy;  throat, 
chest,  sides  of  breast,  sides  and  flanks  pale  brownish  gray;  tinged  with  dull 
buffy,  especially  on  chest;  abdomen  white;  otherwise  like  adults,  but  without 
trace  of  tawny-ochraceous  on  crown".  (Ridgw.) 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States  and  northwestward 
to  Alaska. 

Summer  Range. — Not  uncommon  breeder  in  Manitoba  and 
northwestward  to  Alaska,  except  coast  region  north  to  Cook 
Inlet.  Probably  breeds  locally  and  rarely  in  Wisconsin  and  occurs 
sparingly  east  to  New  England;  once  found  breeding  at  Brunswick, 
Maine.  There  are  no  breeding  records  for  Canada  in  Ontario  or 
eastward,  though  the  species  is  a  rare  migrant  from  southern  Ontario 
to  New  Brunswick  and  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Winter  Range. — Florida  and  Gulf  coast,  and  rarely  north  to 
Charleston,  S.  C.  A  specimen  was  taken  January  I,  1875,  at  Lynn, 
Massachusetts. 

Spring  Migration. — This  species  winters  in  the  south  Atlantic 
states  as  far  north  as  southern  South  Carolina,  but  northward  is  so 
rare  east  of  the  Allegheny  mountains  that  its  normal  times  of  migra- 
tion in  the  north  Atlantic  states  cannot  be  stated  with  any  degree  of 
accuracy.  Some  of  the  following  data  refer  to  the  western  races  of 
this  bird. 


ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER 


PLACE 

No.  of 
year*1 
record 

Average  dmte  of 
spring  arrival 

Barliett  date  of 
spring  arrival 

5 

April  24 

April  17,  1892 

St.  Louis    Mo 

4 

April  27 

April  22    1885 

Chicago    111                                     .... 

5 

May      6 

May      i    1899 

3 

May    13 

May     ii    1889 

Ottawa     Ont 

2 

May     1  8 

May     17    1890 

Lanesboro     Minn                

7 

May      2 

April  27    1888 

Aweme    Manitoba   

7 

May      7 

May      i,  1901 

2 

May      3 

May      2    1889 

Columbia  Falls     Mont 

5 

May      5 

April  30    1897 

Red  Deer,  Alberta    

May    14,  1892 

Fort   Resolution,   Mackenzie    
Fort   Simpson    Mackenzie 

May    22,  1860 
May    21,  1904 

Kowak  River,  Alaska   

May    25,  1899 

4 

March  12 

March    7    1885 

Northern    Oregon           .  .         

3 

March  23 

March  19    1885 

Chilliwack,  B    C  

£!  $'.&£:&*' 

April  17,  1889 

Fall  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of  last 
one  seen 

Near  Fort  Rae,  Mackenzie   

August  1  6   1903 

Chilliwack,  B    C    

September    5    1888 

Columbia   Falls,   Mont  

September  12    1895 

Aweme    Manitoba 

September  27 

Lanesboro,   Minn     

I 

October   i 

October    6    1891 

Ottawa,  Ont  

September  30    1889 

Chicago     111 

October    i    1896 

Cambridge,   Mass  

November  18 

November  28    1001 

Berwyn,    Pa  

October  12        1894 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — During  the  winter  I  have  found  the 
Orange-crowned  Warbler  a  not  uncommon  inhabitant  of  the  live-oaks 
in  middle  Florida  where  its  sharp  chip  soon  becomes  recognizable. 
In  Mississippi,  at  this  season,  Allison  (MS.}  says  that  "its  favorite 
haunts  are  usually  wooded  yards  or  parks,  where  the  evergreen  live 
oak  and  magnolia  can  be  found ;  but  I  have  seen  it  most  commonly 
among  the  small  trees  on  the  border  of  rich  mixed  woods,  above  an 
undergrowth  of  switch  cane.  Coniferous  trees  it  seems  not  to  care  for, 
though  I  have  seen  it  in  the  cypress  swamps." 

The  bird's  migration  route  in  the  spring  appears  to  pass  through 
the  Mississippi  valley  and  it  is  rare  or  unknown  at  this  time  of  the 
year  in  the  north  Atlantic  States.  During  the  fall,  however,  it  is  not 
infrequently  found  there,  Brewster's8  records  of  nine  individuals  seen 
in  his  garden  in  Cambridge,  in  November,  showing  that  it  is  both 
more  common  and  later  than  was  previously  supposed. 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  ORANGE-CROWN  89 

Very  little  appears  to  have  been  written  about  the  habits  of  this 
form  of  the  Orange-crown  in  its  summer  home.  Near  Carberry, 
Manitoba,  Seton2  says  it  is  a  common  summer  resident  in  the  wooded 
sections,  "moving  about  continually  among  the  topmost  twigs  of  the 
trees  and  uttering  its  little  ditty  about  once  every  half  minute."  About 
the  Great  Slave  Lake,  Kennicott  (B.  B.  &  R.,  I.,  204)  found  the  bird 
nesting  among  clumps  of  low  bushes.  In  northern  Alaska,  Nelson1 
states  that  the  Orange-crown  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  wooded 
regions,  straggling  southward  as  an  autumn  migrant  to  the  shores 
of  Behring  Sea  and  Kotzebue  Sound. 

Song. — "Its  song  is  much  like  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  but 
more  musical  and  in  a  higher  key."  (Seton.) 

"Their  song,  only  heard  during  the  mating  and  breeding  season, 
is  a  simple  lay — a  few  sweet  trills  uttered  in  a  spirited  manner,  and 
abruptly  ending  on  a  rising  scale."  (Goss,  Birds  of  Kansas.) 

"The  only  note  heard  is  a  sharp,  persistent,  chipping,  many  times 
repeated,  as  the  bird  moves  about  the  tree,  often  moving  its  wings 
restlessly,  like  a  Kinglet."  (Allison,  MS.) 

"The  song  is  full  and  strong,  not  very  high  pitched,  and  ends 
abruptly  on  a  rising  scale.  My  note  book  renders  it  chee  chee  chee 
chw'  chw'.  The  first  three  syllables  rapidly  uttered,  the  last  two  more 
slowly.  One  heard  late  in  the  season  sang  more  nearly  like  Mr. 
Thompson's  description:  chip-e,  chip-e,  chip-e,  chip-e,  chip-e,  but  with 
the  first  vowel  changed  to  e,  thus  eliminating  what  would  appear 
to  be  a  marked  similarity  to  the  song  of  Chippy.  Even  in  this  song 
the  ending  is  retained."  (Jones.) 

Eggs. — "Average  size  .64x46,  white  or  creamy  white,  finely 
specked  chiefly  on  the  larger  end  with  reddish  or  chestnut  brown.0 
(Davie.) 

The  eggs  undoubtedly  closely  resemble  those  of  the  Lutescent 
Warbler. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  E.  W.  NELSON,  Report  on  Natural  History  Collections  made  in 
Alaska,  200.  (2)  ERNEST  THOMPSON  SETON,  Birds  of  Manitoba,  Proc.  U.  S. 
N.  M.,  1891,  616.  (3)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  324. 

ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  ORANGE-CROWN 

HELMINTHOHILA   CELATA  ORESTERA    (Ober.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Intermediate  in  color  between  Helminthophila 
celata  celata  and  H.  c.  lutescens;  yellower  than  former,  not  so  yellow  as  the 
latter;  in  size  larger  than  lutescens,  and  virtually  agreeing  with  celata. 


90  LUTESCENT   WARBLER 

Average  measurements  of  the  three  forms,  given  by  Oberholser  are  as 
follows: 

Wing.  Tail.  Exposed  Tarsus. 

oilmen. 

H.  c.  celata                       242  1.93  .38  .69 

H.  c.  orestera                     249  1.98  .40  .72 

H.  c.  lutescens                  2.34  1.84  .38  .69 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  in  the  mountains  from  Arizona  (Mt. 
Graham),  southern  California  (Panamint  Mts.),  north  to  British 
Columbia. 

Winter  Range. — Southward  to  Lower  California  and  southern 
Mexico.  In  migration  casually  eastward  to  Minnesota  (Ft.  Snelling) 
and  Pennsylvania  (Williamsport),  (cf.  Oberholser}. 

Note. — This  form  is  now  considered  inseparable  from  V .  c.  celata. 

LUTESCENT  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  CELATA  LUTESCENS    (Ridiw.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  V.  c.  orestera,  but  smaller  and  decid- 
edly yellower.  In  life,  breeding  birds  impress  one  as  being  yellow  rather  than 
olive-green  birds ;  the  underparts  being  strong,  if  somewhat  dusky,  yellow. 

Nestling. — Brownish  olive  above ;  dusky  yellow-olive  below ;  wing-coverts 
with  ochraceous  tips  forming  two  bars. 

General  Distribution. — Pacific  Coast  region. 

Summer  Range. — Mountains  of  southern  California  (Los 
Angeles  Co.)  north  through  the  Sierras  and  coast  ranges  to  Cook 
Inlet,  Alaska. 

Winter  Range. — From  southern  California  and  Arizona  south- 
ward into  Mexico. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Compared  with  our  eastern  Orange- 
crown,  the  Pacific  coast  form  is  distinctly  a  yellow  bird,  and  is  con- 
sequently much  more  conspicuous  than  true  celata.  Walter  Fisher 
(MS.)  contributes  the  following  sketch  of  it  in  its  haunts:  "Chaparral 
hillsides  and  brushy  open  woods  are  the  favorite  haunts  of  the  Lutes- 
cent  Warbler.  Its  nest  is  built  on  or  near  the  ground,  usually  in 
a  bramble  tangle  or  under  a  rooty  bank,  and  the  bird  itself  hunts  near 
the  ground,  flitting  here  and  there  through  the  miniature  jungle  of 
wild  lilacs,  baccharis  and  hazel  bushes.  Its  dull  greenish  color  har- 
monizes with  the  dusty  summer  foliage  of  our  California  chaparral, 
and  with  the  fallen  leaves  and  tangle  of  stems  that  constitute  its  normal 
background.  It  impresses  one  chiefly  by  its  lack  of  any  distinctive 
markings,  and  the  young  of  the  year,  particularly,  approach  that  tint 


DUSKY  WARBLER  91 

which  has  been  facetiously  called  'museum  color'.  Ordinarily  the 
crown-patch  is  invisible  as  the  little  fellow  fidgets  among  the  under- 
growth, but  at  a  distance  of  three  feet  Mr.  W.  L.  Finley  was  able  to 
distinguish  it  when  the  bird  ruffled  its  feathers  in  alarm." 

Song. — "In  March  they  begin  to  sing  their  simple  trill,  which  is 
rather  musical  and  audible  for  a  long  distance."  (Finley1.) 

Nesting  Site. — "Nests  on  the  ground,  on  dry  hillsides  overgrown 
with  brush."  (Bowles,  MS.)  Finley1  mentions  nests  found  "under 
some  dry  ferns  in  the  bank  of  a  little  hollow.  *  *  *  on  a  hillside 
under  a  fir  tree,  placed  on  the  ground  in  a  tangle  of  grass  and  brier. 
*  *  *  In  an  arrow-wood  bush  three  feet  from  the  ground  and  amid 
a  bunch  of  sprouts,  and  in  a  bush  two  feet  up." 

Nest. — "Loosely  made  of  dry  leaves  and  grasses  lined  with  fine 
grass  and  a  little  hair"  (Carriger,  Sonoma  County,  California, 
C.  W.  C.). 

Egg3- — 3  to  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  white  to  creamy  white 
spotted  and  specked  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac-gray  more  heavily 
at  the  larger  end,  slightly  tending  to  wreathe,  with  very  few  specimen- 
showing  blotches.  Size;  average,  .66x.5 1.  The  eggs  of  this  bird  show 
very  little  variation  in  size,  one  set  of  four  showing  the  remarkable 
variation  of  only  i-ioo  of  an  inch  in  length  and  none  in  breadth,  three 
eggs  measuring  .64X.5O  and  one  .63X.5O.  (Figs.  26-28.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Dublin,  Alameda  Co.,  Calif.,  April  5 ;  Sonoma, 
Calif.,  June  7  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Tacoma,  Wash.,  May  3-May  28  (Bowles). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  FINLEY,  The  Lutescent  Warbler  [in  Oregon],  Condor,  VI, 
1904,  131. 

DUSKY  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  CELATA  SORDIDA    (Towns.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  V .  c.  lutescens  but  darker,  more  heavily 
tipped  above,  duskier  more  strongly  streaked  below;  wing  averaging  slightly 
shorter,  the  bill  and  tail  slightly  longer.  Wing,  2.20;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .40. 

General  Distribution. — Santa  Barbara  Islands,  California,  and 
adjoining  mainland. 

Summer  Range. — Santa  Barbara  Islands. 

Winter  Range. — Santa  Barbara  Islands  and  adjoining  mainland. 
(GrinneW.) 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  their  summer  home  on  San  Clemente 
Island,  Grinnell1  says :  "Dusky  Warblers  were  quite  numerous  in  the 
weed-patches  and  brush  along  the  ravines  nearly  to  the  beaches.  But 


92  NASHVILLE   WARBLER 

later,  when  most  of  the  plants  were  dry  and  dead,  they  were  confined 
to  the  cherry  thickets  along  the  canons.  Their  song  and  habits  were 
similar  to  those  of  the  Lutescent  Warbler  of  the  mainland." 

According  to  the  same  author2  the  Dusky  Warbler  "appears  in  the 
vicinity  of  Pasadena  in  the  oak  regions  and  along  the  arroyos  in 
large  numbers  during  August,  and  even  by  the  middle  of  July.  Re- 
mains in  diminishing  numbers  through  the  winter;  the  latest  speci- 
men noted  in  the  spring  was  secured  by  me,  Feb,  29,  '96." 

Eggs. — The  eggs  of  this  race  resemble  those  of  the  Lutescent 
Warbler. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 
(i)  J.  GRINNELL,  Publication  I,  Pasadena  Acad.  Sci.,  20.    (2)  Ibid.,  II,  44. 

NASHVILLE  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  RUBRICAPILLA  RUBRICAPILLA    (Will.)  Pltre  VII 

Distinguishing  Characters.— Adults  with  the  head  gray,  the  c?,  and  often  $, 
with  a  partially  concealed  chestnut  crown-patch ;  no  white  tail-patches  or  wing- 
bars.  Length  (skin),  4.30;  wing,  2.35;  tail,  1.80;  bill,  .36. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Head  and  nape  gray ;  a  large  chestnut  crown-patch  tipped 
with  gray ;  eye-ring  white,  loral  region  white  or,  at  times,  yellow ;  back  olive- 
green,  the  rump  brighter;  tail,  externally,  olive-green,  without  white  patches 
but  inner  web  of  outer  feathers  sometimes  margined  with  white ;  wings,  exter- 
nally, olive-green,  no  wing-bars,  the  bend  yellow;  under-parts  and  crissum 
yellow,  the  lower  belly  whitish. 

Adult  £,  Fall. — Similar  to  last  but  head  browner,  crown-patch  more  broadly 
tipped,  back  grayer,  breast  with  a  brownish  tinge;  belly  with  whitish  tips  to 
feathers. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Fall,  but  chestnut  crown-patch  much 
smaller  or  wanting  entirely. 

Adult  °.,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  with  chestnut  in  crown 
less  in  extent  or  entirely  wanting  (absent  in  half  the  specimens  examined)  ; 
underparts  paler. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  last,  but  crown  browner,  the  chestnut  patch, 
when  present,  more  broadly  tipped,  the  back  grayer,  the  breast  tinged  with 
brown,  the  feathers  of  belly  tipped  with  white. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall,  but  chestnut  crown-patch  rarely 
present 

Nestling. — Above  dusky  olive-green,  sometimes  broadly  edged  with  dark 
brown;  wing-coverts  tipped  with  buff,  forming  two  well-marked  wing-bands; 
breast  and  flanks  dusky  brownish-yellow,  belly  clear  pale  yellow. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America,  but  rare  or  lack- 
ing in  the  southeastern  states. 

Summer  Range. — The  Nashville  Warbler  breeds  more  commonly 
in  New  England  than  elsewhere ;  less  commonly  north  to  Nova  Scotia 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER  ^ 

(Cape  Breton  Island),  Quebec  (Gaspe  Bay),  central  Ontario,  and 
Athabasca  (Cumberland  House);  the  southern  limit  of  the  breed- 
ing range  is  found  in  New  Jersey  (Englewood,  casual),  Pennsylvania 
(Dingman's  Ferry,  Pike  County),  northern  Illinois,  Nebraska 
(Nebraska  City).  East  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  it  is  scarcely 
known  south  of  Maryland,  nor  in  the  Gulf  states  east  of  Texas. 
Accidental  in  Greenland. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Texas  to  southern  Mexico  and  possibly 
Guatemala. 

Spring  Migration. — Wintering  principally  in  Mexico,  the  Nash- 
ville Warblers  of  New  England  seem  to  reach  their  summer  home  by 
a  migration  route  that  shuns  the  lowlands  of  the  southeastern  United 
States.  The  species  is  almost  unknown  in  this  district  south  of 
Virginia.  Records  for  the  western  form  of  this  species  are  here 
included. 


PLACB 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
French  Creek,  W.  Va  

4 

April  28 

April  23,  1891 

Washington,    D     C 

May      «; 

May      4    1887 

Beaver,   Pa  

„  J      3 

May      i 

April  25    1891 

Southeastern  New  York 

7 

May      3 

April  30    1900 

Portland.    Conn  

6 

May      7 

May      5,  1894 

Boston,  Mass  

12 

May      5 

May      i    1896 

Randolph,  Vt  
Southern  New  Hampshire   
Lewiston,    Me  
Montreal,  Can 

5 

1 

May      7 
May      5 
May      9 

May      3,  1894 
April  30,  1902 
May      7,  1897 
May     10    1890 

Quebec,    Can 

May    14    1890 

St.  John,  New  Brunswick  

May    1  6 

May      6,  1895 

Petitcodiac,  New  Brunswick   

Mississippi  Valley  — 
San  Antonio,  T^xas 

March    25 

May      s,  1886 
March  21    1889 

St.   Louis,   I'o    .. 

I 

April  26 

April  20    1885 

Chicago,    111  

6 

May      T 

April  27    1897 

Brookville,   Ind  

April  15    1887 

Northern  Ohio   

6 

May      5 

May      2    1895 

Petersburg,   Mich  

g 

May      7 

May      i    1887 

Southern    Ontario    
Ottawa,  Ont.   .  . 

7 

May      6 
May     14 

May      2,  1898 

Keokuk,  Iowa   

g 

May      6 

April  28    1896 

Lanesboro,   Minn  

g 

May      Q 

May      i    1888 

Minneapolis,   Minn  

May     14 

May    13    1888 

Pacific  Slope— 
Yuma,    Ariz  

March  n    1902 

Huachuca  Mountains,  Ariz.  . 

April     i    190^ 

Dunlap,    f"al  

April  23    1801 

Revelstoke,  B.  C  

May      9,  1800 

94 


NASHVILLE   WARBLER 


Fall  Migration. — The  arrival  of  migrants  south  of  their  breeding 
grounds  has  been  noted  at  Chicago,  111.,  August  16,  1896;  Beaver,  Pa., 
September  5,  19x33;  Ossining,  N.  Y.,  August  n;  Englewood,  N.  J., 
August  26,  1887;  Washington,  D.  C,  September  5;  French  Creek, 
W.  Va.,  September  7,  1890;  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  September  17,  1885,  and 
at  Gainesville,  Texas,  October  n,  1885. 


PI.ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of  last 
one  seen 

Lanesboro,    Minn.    .  . 

September  27 

September  29,  1889 

Grinnell,    Iowa    

October     i,  1886 

Ottawa,  Ont    . 

5 

September  20 

October  10,  1900 

Mackinac  Island,  Mich    

September  24,  1889 

North  River.  Prince  Edward  Island. 
St.  John,  New  Brunswick   
Southern  Maine   

3 

September    2 
September  1  1 

August  10,  1887 
September    5,  1895 
September  27,  1902 

Renovo,    Pa 

7 

September  26 

October    3,  1902 

Croton-on-Hudson,  NY             .... 

2 

October  3 

October    7,  1888 

Cooney,  N.  Mex  
Dunlap,   Cal  

September  30,  1889 
October  12,  1800 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Wilson,  the  discoverer  of  this  species, 
found  only  the  three  specimens,  taken  near  Nashville,  Tennessee,  on 
which  his  description  was  based ;  and,  in  the  early  part  of  the  last 
century  it  was  considered  a  rare  bird.  Brewster5,  quoting  Samuel 
Cabot,  says  that  soon  after  1836  "a  few  birds  began  to  appear  every 
season.  They  increased  in  numbers,  gradually  but  steadily,  until  they 
had  become  so  common  that  in  1842  he  obtained  ten  specimens  in  the 
course  of  a  single  morning." 

Recounting  his  own  experience  in  the  Cambridge  region, 
Brewster6  adds:  "In  1868,  and  for  some  fifteen  years  later,  I  found 
Nashville  Warblers  breeding  rather  numerously  in  Waltham,  Lexing- 
ton, Arlington  and  Belmont,  usually  in  dry  and  somewhat  barren 
tracts  sparsely  covered  with  gray  birches,  oaks  or  red  cedars,  or  with 
scattered  pitch  pines.  A  few  birds  continued  to  occupy  certain  of 
these  stations,  but  in  all  of  the  towns  just  mentioned  the  Nashville 
Warbler  is  less  common  and  decidedly  less  generally  distributed  in 
summer  now  than  it  was  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago." 

Gerald  Thayer  writes:  '"Birch  Warbler'  would  be  a  good  name 
for  this  bird  as  it  appears  in  the  Monadnock  region  where  it  breeds 
abundantly.  For  here  it  is  nowhere  so  common  as  in  abandoned  fields 
and  mountain  pastures  half  smothered  by  small  gray  birches.  From 
the  airy  upper  story  of  these  low  and  often  dense  birch  copses  the 
Nashvilles  sing ;  and  among  the  club-mosses  and  ferns,  and  the  hard- 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER  95 

hacks  and  other  scrubby  bushes  at  their  bases  and  around  their  borders, 
the  Nashvilles  build  their  nests.  But  such  is  merely  their  most  char- 
acteristic home.  They  are  so  common  and  widespread  that  it  is  hard 
to  get  out  of  earshot  of  their  song  during  the  breeding  season.  Dark 
spruce  woods  they  do  not  favor,  nor  big,  mixed  virgin  timber;  but 
even  in  these  places,  one  is  likely  to  find  them  wherever  there  is  a 
little  'oasis'  of  sunlight  and  smaller  deciduous  growth.  They  are 
fairly  common  among  the  scanty  spruces,  mountain  ashes  and  white 
birches  of  the  rocky  upper  ridge  of  Mt.  Monadnock,  almost  to  the 
top — 3,169  feet. 

"The  Nashville's  proper  domain  or  'beat',  during  the  breeding 
season,  lies  between  the  ground  and  the  tops  of  the  lower  trees — 
mainly  deciduous  trees.  He  is  a  little,  active,  foliage-colored  Warbler, 
un-showily  yellow -breasted,  inconspicuously  gray-headed  (except  for 
a  yellow  throat,  and  a  rufous  crown-spot  which  scarcely  shows  at  all) 
with  a  dim  white  eye-ring,  but  without  white  tail-spots,  wing-bars  or 
any  other  bold  markings.  In  demeanor  it  is  one  of  the  most  nervously 
agile  and  restless  of  the  gleaning  Warblers."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Song. — "The  Nashville  has  at  least  two  main  perch-songs,  and 
a  flight-song,  all  subject  to  a  good  deal  of  variation.  It  belongs  decid- 
edly among  the  full-voiced  Warblers; — the  Yellow,  Magnolia,  Black- 
throated  Green,  Chestnut-side,  Hooded,  Canadian,  etc.,  on  the  one 
hand,  as  compared  with  the  Parula,  Blackburnian,  Cape  May, 
Black  and  Wliite,  Blackpoll,  Bay-breast,  etc.,  on  the  other.  Its  com- 
moner perch-song  consists  of  a  string  of  six  or  eight  or  more,  lively, 
rapid  notes,  suddenly  congested  into  a  pleasant,  rolling  twitter,  lower 
in  key  than  the  first  part  of  the  song,  and  about  half  as  long.  In  the 
other  perch-song,  the  notes  of  what  correspond  to  the  rolling  twitter 
are  separate  and  richer,  and  the  second  part  of  the  song  is  longer  and 
more  noticeable  than  the  first,  whose  notes  are  few  and  slurred,  while 
the  whole  is  more  languidly  delivered.  The  differences  are  hard  to 
describe  intelligibly ;  but  in  reality  they  are  pronounced  and  constant. 
The  flight-song,  a  fairly  common  performance  in  late  summer,  is  sung 
from  the  height  of  five  to  forty  feet  above  the  (usually  low)  tree-tops. 
It  is  like  the  commoner  perch-songs,  but  more  hurried,  and  slightly 
elaborated, — often  with  a  few  chippings  added,  at  both  ends.  Among 
the  Nashville's  calls  a  very  small,  dry  chip,  and  a  more  metallic,  louder 
chip,  somewhat  Water-Thmsh-like,  are  noteworthy.  It  also  chippers 
like  a  young  Warbler  or  a  Black-throated  Green."  (Thayer,  MS.) 


96 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER 


Miss  Paddock  sends  six  renderings  of  the  Nashville's  song  and 
writes:  "The  first  half  of  the  Nashville's  song  is  sibilant,  the  last  half 
is  a  twitter.  I  cannot  agree  with  Mr.  Matthews  that  the  first  part  is 
always  'lame-legged',  though  it  is  often  so." 

A  Allegro    8  vet/  

L  .MM  M  rj  rj   JJJJj^y. 


* 

J  J  -1  J  J  J  J  1 

j^ro 

I    J" 


2 


"A  very  peculiar  song,  unlike  the  usual  quality,  and  in  leisurely 
fashion,  ran  as  follows:  The  tempo  was  regular  and  all  the  notes 
seemed  to  utter  the  syllables  chip,  chip,  chip." 


Nesting  Site. — The  nest  is  apparently  always  placed  on  the 
ground,  the  character  of  the  situation  being  indicated  by  the  following 
quotations:  "the  side  of  a  knoll  well  concealed  by  brakes  and  brush. 
*  *  *  on  the  roots  of  a  small  bush  that  grew  from  the  side  of  a 
knoll"  (Morrell*)  ;  "under  a  shrub  or  tree  much  after  the  fashion  of 
the  Black  and  White  Warbler"  (Bowles*)  ;  "the  nests  I  have  found 
have  uniformly  been  in  the  side  of  sphagnum  tussocks,  and  well 
sunken  out  of  sight  from  above,  so  that  one  must  stoop  to  look  into 
them"  (Preston2).  Nests  found  by  Spaulding  at  Lancaster,  N.  IT., 
were  in  the  side  of  grassy  knolls. 


CALAVERAS  WARBLER 


97 


Nest. — After  stating  that  in  Massachusetts  the  site  selected 
resembles  that  chosen  by  the  Black  and  White  Warbler,  Bowles4  adds : 
"the  material,  however,  is  somewhat  different,  consisting  of  moss,  dry 
leaves,  grass  and  pine-needles,  and  lined  with  pine-needles  and  grass, 
instead  of  horse-hair,  which  is  almost  invariably  used  by  Mniotilta. 
Spaulding  describes  New  Hampshire  nests  as  made  of  moss  and  fine 
grasses  lined  with  rootlets,  while  nests  found  by  Preston2  in  Minne- 
sota were  composed  of  the  "soft  stems  of  a  slender  Juncus  and  some 
were  lined  with  deer's  hair." 

Eggs. — 4  or  5.  Ground  color  white  to  creamy  white  specked 
and  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  of  varying  shades  forming 
a  more  or  less  distinct  wreath  about  large  end.  This  egg  and  that  of 
the  Pileolated  Warbler  approach  each  other  closely.  Size;  a  typical 
set  of  five  measures  .62x46,  .63x46,  .65x48,  .62x47  and  .63x46; 
other  specimens  measure  the  same.  (Figs.  23-25.) 

Nesting  Dates. — New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  30- June  8  (Bishop)  ; 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying,  May  25-June  I  (Brewster)  ; 
Lancaster,  N.  H.,  May  25-June  8  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor,  Maine,  June 
3-June  6;  Fort  Kent,  Maine,  July  10  (Knight)  ;  Detroit,  Mich.,  May 
30  (J.P.N.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Nashville  Warbler,  Orn.  and 
O61.,  XV,  1890,  23.  (2)  J.  W.  PRESTON,  A  Glimpse  of  the  Nashville  Warbler 
[in  Minn.],  Orn.  and  O61.,  XVI,  1891,  89.  (3)  C.  H.  MORRELL,  Nesting  of 
the  Nashville  Warbler  [in  Maine],  Nidologist,  III,  1896,  125.  (4)  J.  H.  BOWLES, 
Nesting  Habits  of  the  Nashville  Warbler  [in  Mass.],  Osprey,  I,  1896,  20.  (5) 
WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  323. 

CALAVERAS  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA   RUBRICAPILLA  GUTTURALIS    (RldEw.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Vermivora  r.  rubricapilla,  but  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts  brighter,  more  yellow;  underparts  richer,  deeper  yellow. 

General  Distribution. — Western  United  States. 

Summer  Range. — High  mountains,  from  the  Sierra  Nevada 
(Calaveras  Co.,  Calif.)  to  British  Columbia  (Vernon,  Nelson,  Okan- 
agan  district,  etc.),  eastward  to  eastern  Oregon  (Fort  Klamath, 
northern  Idaho  (Fort  Sherman),  etc.  (Ridgw.). 

Winter  Range. — Southern  California  to  southern  Mexico ;  east  in 
migration  to  central  Texas. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Although  the  Calaveras  Warbler  is 
very  rare  or  wanting  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  it  is  locally  common  in 


98  VIRGINIA'S  WARBLER 

British  Columbia  and  southward  in  the  Sierras ;  this  brighter  western 
form  having  been  described  under  the  subspecific  name  gutturalis  in 
1874. 

Of  this  bird,  as  it  occurs  in  California,  Walter  Fisher  writes: 
"The  Calaveras  Warbler  is  a  characteristic  denizen  of  the  chaparral 
and  is  found  on  both  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas  about  as  far  south 
as  Mt.  Whitney.  It  frequents  the  belts  of  the  yellow,  sugar,  and 
Jeffrey  pines,  and  ranges  up  into  the  red  fir  zone.  During  the  height 
of  the  nesting  season  one  may  see  them  flitting  about  among  thickets 
of  manzanita,  wild  cherry,  huckleberry,  oak  and  buck  brush,  almost 
always  in  song;  and  while  the  female  is  assiduously  hunting  among 
the  dense  cover  of  bushes,  the  male  is  often  singing  in  a  pine  or  fir, 
far  above  mundane  household  cares. 

"These  Warblers  are  conspicuous  fellows,  the  yellow  underparts 
showing  in  bold  contrast  to  the  gray  crown  and  cheeks,  and  olive-green 
upper-parts.  It  is  likely  that  the  brilliant  mountain  sunshine  heightens 
the  color  effect.  I  have  observed  this  Warbler  at  lower  altitudes  on 
the  west  slope  among  small  black  oaks,  in  company  with  Hermit 
Warblers,  from  which  it  can  be  readily  distinguished  by  the  absence  of 
yellow  cheeks  and  black  throat."  (Fisher,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — "Nests  on  the  ground,  on  the  dry,  open  prairies 
at  the  foot  of  a  small  bush."  (Bowles,  MS.) 

Eggs. — The  eggs  of  this  bird  in  all  respects  are  the  same  as 
those  of  the  Nashville  Warbler. 

Nesting  Dates. — Tacoma,  Wash.,  April  28  9  building;  June  2,t 
three  fresh  eggs  (Bowles). 

VIRGINIA'S  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  VIRGINIA    (B.lrd)    Plite  VI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — General  color  gray;  crown-patch  chestnut,  upper 
and  under  tail-coverts  and  breast-patch  yellow.  Length  (skin),  4.20;  wing,  2.40; 
tail,  1.85;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown-patch  chestnut  tipped  with  gray;  cheeks  and 
back  brownish  gray,  eye-ring  white;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  dull  yellow; 
tail  fuscous,  outer  pair  of  feathers  usually  margined  with  white  on  the  inner 
web;  wings  margined  with  gray,  no  white  bars;  below  grayish  white,  breast- 
patch  and  under  tail-coverts  yellow. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  above  but  crown-patch  more  broadly  tipped, 
underparts  more  buffy. 

Young  c?,  Fall. — Not  seen. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  chestnut  and  yellow 
areas  somewhat  paler  and  more  restricted. 


PLATE  VI 


1.  OLIVE  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  OLIVE  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE 

3.  LUCY'S  WARBLER,  ADULT. 


4.  Lucy's  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 

5.  VIRGINIA'S  WARBLER,  ADULT. 

6.  VIRGINIA'S  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 


(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


VIRGINIA'S  WARBLER  yy 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  slightly  browner  above, 
crest  tipped  with  brownish  gray,  yellow  of  breast  with  whitish,  flanks  browner. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  crown-patch  nearly  obso- 
lete, rump  and  under  tail-coverts  duller,  under  parts  buflfier,  no  yellow  breast- 
patch. 

Nestling. — Above  grayish  brown ;  throat  and  breast  paler,  belly  whitish ; 
upper  and  under  tail-coverts  saffron;  wings  and  tail  as  in  young  c£,  greater 
and  median  coverts  brownish  gray  narrowly  but  sharply  tipped  with  buffy. 

General  Distribution. — Rocky  Mountains  of  the  United  States, 
north  to  Colorado  (common),  Utah  (Wasatch  Mts.,  Salt  Lake  City) 
and  Nevada  (East  Humboldt  Mountains).  Winters  in  Mexico. 

Migration. — The  first  migrant  was  seen  at  Cooney,  New  Mex., 
April  10,  1889;  Huachuca,  Ariz.,  April  10,  1902;  Beulah,  Colo.,  May 
6,  1905;  Monon,  Colo.,  May  3,  1905. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — "Virginia's  Warbler  was  discovered 
at  Cantonment  Burgwyn  in  New  Mexico,  by  Dr.  W.  W.  Anderson, 
and  first  described,  in  1860,  by  Professor  Baird  who  dedicated  it 
to  the  wife  of  the  discoverer.  The  type  specimen  remained  unique 
until  1864,  when  the  present  writer  took  a  second  example  at  Fort 
Whipple,  on  the  fifteenth  of  August;  this  was  a  young  bird  very 
likely  bred  in  the  vicinity.  Shortly  afterward,  1869,  Mr.  Ridgway 
ascertained  that  the  bird  was  abundant  in  the  East  Humboldt  and 
Wahsatch  Mountains,  where  it  was  breeding  in  thickets  of  scrub 
oak.  *  *  * 

"Mr.  C.  E.  Aiken  shortly  afterward  extended  the  known  range  of 
the  species  to  include  the  eastern  foothills  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in 
Colorado,  where  it  breeds.  This  excellent  observer  found  it  in  various 
parts  of  the  State,  but  especially  along  the  eastern  base  of  the  moun- 
tains, where,  in  its  favorite  haunts,  it  sometimes  outnumbers  all  other 
Warblers  put  together.  It  is  a  shy  and  timid  species,  generally  dart- 
ing, with  its  sharp  note  of  alarm,  into  its  place  of  concealment  when 
approached.  In  summer  it  frequents  the  scrub  of  the  hillsides,  at  any 
elevation  up  to  about  7,500  feet,  but  during  the  migrations  it  is  found 
indifferently  in  the  pine  forests  and  among  the  cottonwoods  and 
willows  along  the  streams."  (Coues.*) 

"This  species  is  quite  common  in  the  pine  regions  throughout 
Arizona,  but  I  have  not  seen  it  at  a  lower  elevation  than  5,000  feet. 
Unlike  other  Warblers  in  this  section,  they  keep  almost  entirely  in 
the  underbrush,  where  they  are  continually  on  the  move  and  at  the 
same  time  uttering  a  quick  chirp  as  if  in  distress."  (Howard*.) 

Song. — "The  male  is  very  musical  during  the  nesting  season, 
uttering  his  swee  ditty  continually  as  he  skips  through  the  bushes  in 


100  LUCY'S   WARBLER 

search  of  his  morning  repast;  or  having  satisfied  his  appetite,  he 
mounts  to  the  top  of  some  tree  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  nest,  and 
repeats  at  regular  intervals  a  song  of  remarkable  fullness  for  a  bird 
of  such  minute  proportions."  (Aiken.) 

"Ordinary  note,  a  sharp  chip;  song  simple  but  various  (decep- 
tively so)  ;  common  forms  are  che'-we-che'-we-che'-we-che'-we^wit-a- 
wit-wit-ivit  (these  terminal  notes  being  partially  characteristic 
of  Heltninthophaga:)  and  che-we'-che-wc'-che-we'-che'-a-chc'-ache." 
(Minot*) 

Nesting  Site. — Nests  found  by  Howard  and  Judson  were  on  the 
ground  under  a  bush  or  bunch  of  grass.  A  nest  found  by  W.  G. 
Smith  at  Estes  Park,  Colorado,  was  "under  a  rocky  ledge,  sunken  in 
the  ground  and  well  hidden."  (C.  W.  C.) 

Nest. — Nests  collected  by  Howard2  were  made  of  "fine  straws, 
rootlets  and  fibers,  loosely  put  together." 

Eggs- — 4  or  5,  rarely  5.  Ground  color  white  lightly  wreathed 
around  the  larger  end  with  specks  and  spots  of  reddish  and  purplish 
brown,  a  few  scattering  specks  of  the  same  colors  over  rest  of  egg. 
Size;  average,  .66x49.  A  set  of  four,  from  Estes  Park,  Colorado, 
show  very  regular  measurements :  .66x49,  .66x49,  .66x.5o  and  .67x49. 
(Figs.  21,22.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Arizona,  May  17  (Judson}  ;  Estes  Park,  Colo., 
June  20  (C.W.C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  B.  JUDSON,  Nesting  of  Virginia's  Warbler,  Osprey,  III,  1898,  54. 
(2)  C.  W.  HOWARD,  Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull.  Cooper 
Orn.  Club  (=Condor),  I,  1899,  63.  (3)  H.  D.  MINOT,  Notes  on  Colorado 
Birds,  Bull.  Nutt  Orn.  Club,  V,  1880,  226. 

Lucys  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  LUCI/E     (Coor»r)    Pl.te   VI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — General  color  gray,  crown-patch  and  upper 
tail-coverts  chestnut.  Length  (skin),  3.80;  wing,  2.20;  tail,  1.65;  bill,  .38. 

Adult  £,  Spring. — Crown  largely  chestnut  with  more  or  less  pronounced 
gray  tips  which  wear  off  in  the  breeding  season ;  back  gray ;  upper  tail-coverts 
chestnut;  tail  fuscous,  outer  feathers  with  a  dull  white  patch,  white  sometimes 
extending  to  margin  of  inner  vane  of  second  feather;  wings  gray,  no  white 
bars ;  cheeks  and  underparts  dusky  white  more  or  less  tinged  with  buff. 

Adult  cf,  Fall— Similar  to  last  "but  above  tinged  with  brown,  the  chestnut 
crown-patch  concealed  by  very  broad  brownish  gray  tips  to  the  feathers ;  under- 
parts pale  brownish  buff,  becoming  white,  or  nearl>  so,  on  the  abdomen" 
(Ridgw.). 

Young  <$.  Fall.— Not  seen. 


LUCY'S  WARBLER  101 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in   Spring  but  with  the  chestnut  of 
crown  and  tail-coverts  averaging  paler  in  color  and  less  in  extent. 
Adult  $,  Fall— Not  seen. 
Young  ?,  Fall. — Not  seen. 

Nestling. — No  crown-patch;  crown  and  back  brownish  gray;  upper  taii- 
coverts  cinnamon;  wing-coverts  and  tertials  edged  with  cinnamon;  below  white 
washed  with  buffy. 

General  Distribution. — Western  United  States,  breeds  com- 
monly in  Arizona  and  rarely  north  to  the  lower  Santa  Clara  Valley, 
southwestern  Utah.  Winters  in  northwestern  Mexico. 

Migration. — Its  arrival  in  Arizona  was  noted  at  Fort  Lowell, 
March  20,  1902;  Oracle,  April  i,  1899;  Fort  Mojave,  March  25; 
Whipple  Barracks,  March  31,  1892,  and  in  the  Huachuca  Mountains, 
April  8,  1902. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  restricted  range  of  this  species 
has  brought  it  within  the  field  experience  of  comparatively  few  orni- 
thologists. Discovered  by  J.  G.  Cooper  at  Fort  Mojave,  Arizona, 
March  25,  1861,  where  it  was  not  uncommon  in  the  mesquite  chaparral, 
it  was  taken  two  years  later  by  Holden  and  in  April,  1865,  was  found 
by  Coues  at  Fort  Whipple. 

The  nest  was  first  found  by  Bendire  at  Tucson,  Arizona,  on 
May  19,  1872,  additional  examples  being  discovered  by  Stephens,  as 
recorded  by  Brewster1,  at  the  same  locality  nine  years  later. 

Coues  described  the  Lucy's  Warblers  which  came  under  hij 
observation  as  "rather  timid,  retiring  birds,  likely  to  be  long  over- 
looked in  the  thickets  and  copses  to  which  they  seem  to  be  much 
attached."  Stephens,  however,  states  that  "although  active  and  rest- 
less they  were  not  at  all  shy."  He  adds  that  "they  were  more  abun- 
dant among  the  mesquites  than  any  other  species  and  their  tseeping 
could  be  heard  on  every  side.  They  were  continually  in  motion,  flying 
from  tree  to  tree,  and  occasionally  visiting  some  low  brush  in  the 
vicinity." 

Howard2  writes  that  Lucy's  Warbler  is  fairly  common  along  the 
river  bottoms  throughout  southern  Arizona,  especially  in  the  mes- 
quite and  willow  thickets. 

Song. — The  song  of  Lucy's  Warbler  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  described. 

Nesting  Site. — Recording  Stephens'  observations  on  the  nesting 
habits  of  this  Warbler  in  Arizona,  Brewster1  states  that  the  site 
was  "variable ;  the  characteristic  place,  like  that  of  the  specimen 
discovered  by  Captain  Bendire,  was  behind  the  loosened  bark  of  a 
large  tree,  but  use  was  frequently  made  of  old  Woodpecker's  nests, 
knot-holes,  and  in  short,  all  sorts  of  crevices."  One  pair  appropri- 


102  LUCY'S   WARBLER 

ated  a  deserted  Verdin's  nest  using  it  without  apparent  repairs  or 
alterations.  Howard2  records  a  similar  instance  and  adds :  "most 
of  the  nests  were  in  mesquite  trees,  in  natural  cavities  or  behind 
pieces  of  loose  bark,  ranging  in  height  from  two  to  twenty  feet,  but, 
as  a  rule,  they  are  within  easy  reach." 

Nest. — nThe  nests  are  very  frail  affairs  and  are  made  of  fine 
straws,  vegetable  fibers  and  leaves,  with  a  lining  of  feathers  and  hair." 
(Howard*.) 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  3  or  4.  Ground  color  white,  handsomely 
wreathed  around  the  large  end  with  specks,  spots,  and  small  blotches 
of  reddish  brown,  umber,  and  lavender;  in  some  cases  the  markings 
are  sparingly  distributed  over  all  the  egg,  the  rule,  however,  is  a 
well-defined  wreath  around  the  large  end.  Probably  averaging  the 
smallest  of  North  American  Warblers'  eggs.  Size;  average,  .59X.44; 
extremes,  .61x45,  .56x43.  (Figs.  18-20.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Phoenix,  Ariz.,  April  19  (C.  W .  C)  ;  Tucson, 
Ariz.,  April  28-June  u  (Stephens). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER.  On  a  Collection  of  Birds  lately  made  by  Mr.  F. 
Stephens  in  Arizona,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VII,  1882,  82.  (2)  O.  W.  HOWARD. 
Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull.  Cooper  Orn.  Club,  (=Condor), 
x,  1899,  37- 

Genus  COMPSOTHLYPIS  Cabanis 

Our  two  species  of  this  genus  are  small  bluish  birds  with  a  short, 
wedge-shaped,  sharply  pointed,  slightly  curved,  unnotched  bill,  of 
which  the  upper  mandible  is  blackish,  the  lower,  whitish;  the  rictal 
bristles  are  short  but  evident;  the  wing  is  about  .70  inches  longer 
than  the  tail  and  has  the  four  outer  primaries  of  nearly  equal  length, 
the  tail-feathers  are  narrow  and  of  about  equal  length,  the  outer 
ones  being  conspicuously  marked  with  white;  the  feet  are  dark, 
the  tarsus  is  much  longer  than  the  middle  toe  and  nail,  the 
hind  toe-nail  is  nearly  as  long  as  the  toe. 

Compsothlypis  contains  three  species,  C.  graysoni  of  Socorro 
Island,  Mexico,  C.  pitiayumi,  ranging  from  Brazil  to  the  Lower  Rio 
Grande  and  separated  into  half  a  dozen  geographical  races,  of  which 
our  C.  nigrilora  is  the  most  northern,  and  C.  atnericana  of  the  eastern 
United  States. 

Our  species  nest  in  hanging  bunches  of   Usnea  or   Tillandsia 


SOUTHERN  PARULA  WARBLER  103 

SOUTHERN  PARULA  WARBLER 

COMPSOTHLYPIS  AMERICAN  AMERICANA   (Linn.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  C.  a.  usnece  but  with  less  black  about 
the  lores,  throat  in  <J  with  more  yellow,  the  blackish  throat  band  very  narrow 
or  poorly  denned;  $  not  distinguishable  from  $  of  usnea.  Smaller  and  with 
a  slightly  larger  bill  than  usnece  from  the  North  Atlantic  States;  larger  than 
specimens  of  usnea  from  the  lower  Mississippi  valley  and  Texas.  Wing,  2.25; 
tail,  i. 60;  bill,  .38. 

General  Distribution. — Southeastern  United  States. 

Summer  Range. — Southeastern  Atlantic  and  eastern  Gulf  states 
west  along  the  coast  region  to  Alabama ;  north  to  southern  New  York. 
Ridgway  refers  to  this  form  occasional  speciments  from  as  far  north 
as  Sing  Sing  and  Shelter  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  even  Cape  Cod,  Mass., 
and  as  far  west  as  Mount  Carmel,  Ills.,  and  Rockwood,  Tenn.  A 
breeding  bird  from  Caesar's  Head  in  the  mountains  of  western 
North  Carolina  is  typical  americana.  The  form  as  fully  developed,  is 
frequently  Austroriparian,  specimens  from  the  Carolinian  fauna  being 
largely  intermediate  between  it  and  usnece. 

Winter  Range. — Central  Florida  south  to  the  West  Indies. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — About  March  I,  in  northern  Florida, 
when  the  blossoming  cypress,  maple  and  red-bud  announce  the  com- 
ing of  spring  the  quaint  sizzling  trill  of  the  newly  arrived  Parula 
Warbler  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  bird  voices  of  the  season. 
Possibly  among  these  migrants  there  may  be  representatives  of  the 
more  northern  form  of  this  bird,  but  if  the  singer's  drowsy  little  lay 
appeals  to  you  as  it  does  to  me  you  will  not  stop  to  inquire  the  exact 
shade  of  his  coat  but  will  greet  him  as  the  author  of  one  of  the  most 
welcome  bits  of  bird  music  in  the  Florida  spring. 

The  abundance  of  the  Spanish  'moss'  (Tillandsia)  in  which  this 
southern  Parula  nests  is  accountable  for  its  being  a  more  common  and 
uniformly  distributed  bird  than  is  the  northern  Parula.  When  migrat- 
ing it  is  often  found  feeding  amid  the  blossoms  of  the  cypress,  while 
the  quantity  of  'moss'  usually  pendant  from  these  water-loving  trees 
makes  them  a  favorite  summer  home.  The  Parula  also  frequents  the 
deciduous  'hammocks'  but  not,  so  far  as  I  have  observed,  the  pines. 

Song.— I  am  unable  to  say  whether  there  is  any  difference  in 
the  song  of  the  Northern  and  Southern  Parulas  but  I  imagine  that  the 
quaint,  attractive,  little  gurgling  sizzle  chip-er,  chip-er  chip-er,  chee- 
ee-ee-ee,  which  is  first  heard  in  Florida  about  March  I,  is  uttered  by 
the  southern  form,  though  I  do  not  detect  in  its  notes  any  difference 
from  those  of  the  northern  bird. 


I04  PARULA  WARBLER 

Nesting  Site. — Although  specimens  of  Compsothlypis  from 
Mississippi  are  nearer  usnece  than  americana,  the  following  descrip- 
tion of  their  nest  and  its  site  is  more  applicable  to  the  later  than  to 
the  former.  "The  invariable  nesting  site  is  a  clump  of  Spanish  moss 
— where  this  is  to  be  had ;  I  have  not  observed  nests  from  beyond  the 
range  of  this  plant.  The  nest  is  generally  placed  near  the  branch 
from  which  the  long  filaments  of  the  'moss'  depend,  so  that  it  is  well 
concealed.  The  height  from  the  ground  varies  from  about  eight  feet 
upwards.  The  site  is  not  used  a  second  year;  whether  for  a  second 
brood  or  not,  I  cannot  say. 

Nest. — The  nest  is  nearly  hemispherical  in  shape,  opening  directly 
upward.  The  usual  material,  in  lower  Louisiana,  is  thistle-down, 
which  is  abundant  during  the  nesting  season.  Animal  hairs  are  not 
used,  I  think.  A  nest  from  Bay  St.  Louis  was  composed  of  the  very 
black  horse-hair-like  inner  fiber  resulting  from  the  decay  of  Tillandsia." 
(Allison,  MS.) 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  white  to  creamy  white, 
somewhat  glossy,  marked  with  reddish  brown,  chestnut,  and  grayish 
tints,  tending  to  form  a  wreath  around  the  large  end ;  the  markings 
are  coarse  and  well-defined.  These  eggs  vary  in  size  and  shape  to  a 
marked  degree.  Size ;  average,  .67x48.  Two  extreme  sets  of  4  eggs 
each  measure  75X.5O,  76x.5o,  77X.5O  and  .65x47,  .61x44,  .64x46. 
(Figs.  31,32.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Bay  St.  Louis,  Miss.,  May  8,  young  about  ready 
to  leave  nest — August  newly  fledged  young  (Allison).  (Doubtless 
referable  to  C.  usnece)  ;  Mt.  Pleasant,  S.  C,  April  15  (Wayne). 

NORTHERN  PARULA  WARBLER 

COMPSOTHLYPIS  AMERICANA  USNE>E  (Brcwtt.)  Plate  VIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — General  color  above  bluish,  center  of  back  yel- 
lowish; two  conspicuous  white  wing-bars.  Length  (skin),  4.00;  wing,  2.40; 
tail,  1.65;  bill,  .38. 

Adult  £,  Spring. — Upperparts  grayish  blue,  center  of  back  yellowish  green; 
lores  black,  eye-ring  with  a  white  spot  above  and  another  below  the  eye;  tail 
edged  with  bluish,  outer  two  or  three  feathers  with  a  white  patch  on  the  inner 
web  near  the  tip ;  wings  edged  with  bluish,  median  and  greater  coverts  broadly 
tipped  with  white;  sides  of  the  throat  grayish  blue  much  restricting  the  brown- 
tinged  yellow  of  chin  and  upper  throat,  lower  throat  with  a  more  or  less  well- 
defined  band  of  bluish  black  often  tinged  with  brownish  and  tipped  with  yellow, 
this  bordered  posteriorly  by  a  less  well-defined  brown,  yellow-tipped  area  which, 
in  turn,  is  bordered  by  clear  yellow ;  belly  white  the  sides  grayish,  often  with 
more  or  less  brownish  chestnut. 


PLATE  VIII 


1.  PARULA  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE.  3.   PARULA  WARBLER,  ADULT   FEMALE. 

2.  PARULA  WARBLER,  YOUNG   FEMALE.  4.  SENNETT'S  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

5.  SENNETT'S  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 
(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


PARULA  WARBLER 


105 


Adult  $,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  <?  in  Spring  but  blue  areas  more  or  less 
tipped  with  greenish,  the  throat  bands  with  yellow ;  more  white  about  the  eyes 
and  lores. 

Young  <$,  Fall— Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Fall  but  with  the  blue  areas  still 
more  heavily  tipped  with  greenish,  the  blackish  throat  band  less  pronounced  or 
absent. 

Adult  ?,  Spring.— Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  blue  areas  duller  and 
with  more  or  less  greenish  wash;  blackish  throat-band  usually  absent,  brown 
breast-band  much  reduced,  paler,  or  absent;  sides  grayish  usually  without  chest- 
nut. 

Adult  $,  Fall— Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  blue  areas  greener,  the 
breast  with  still  less  brown. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Fall  but  with  no  brown  on  breast. 

Nestling. — Above  brownish  gray  with  a  tinge  of  green ;  below  grayish  white  ; 
two  white  wing-bars. 

General  Distribution.— Eastern  Texas,  Mississippi  Valley,  and 
north  Atlantic  States. 

Summer  Range. — Gulf  States  east  to  Alabama,  Mississippi 
Valley  as  far  west,  casually,  as  eastern  Nebraska  (Havelock,  April  20, 
1901),  South  Dakota  (Black  Hills),  Wyoming  (Cheyenne,  May  30, 
1888),  Colorado  (Fountain,  May  n,  1870)  ;  north  to  northern  Wis- 
consin, northeastern  Minnesota  (St.  Louis  Co.,),  Michigan  (Spectacle 
Reef)  ;  east  through  central  Ontario  (Ottawa,  Algonquin  Park), 
Prince  Edward  Island,  New  Brunswick  (rare  or  local),  Nova  Scotia, 
northern  Maine;  south  to  southern  New  England  and  casually 
further  and  along  the  Alleghenies  to  North  Carolina. 

The  apparent  derivation  of  the  New  England  birds  from  the 
Mississippi  Valley  is  paralleled  by  the  distribution  of  Geothlypis  trichas 
trichas. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  and  Central  America. 

Spring  Migration. — Records  from  the  South  Atlantic  States 
doubtless  relate  to  both  the  southern  Parula  (Compsothlypis  americana 
americana}  and  the  northern  Parula  (C.  a.  usnecs')  ;  those  from  the 
northern  States  and  Mississippi  Valley  to  the  northern  Parula  only. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Southern  Florida   

3 

March    5 

March  3    1889 

Frogmore,  S.  C  
Raleigh,   N.   C  

4 
13 

March  23 
April    8 

March  5,  1889 
April     i,  1889 

Asheville,  N.  C.  (near)   

5 

April  15 

April    9,  1893 

French  Creek   W   Va 

April  22 

April  19    1893 

Washingon    D    C 

3 

Aoril  25 

April  19    1891 

io6 


PARULA  WARBLER 


PLACE 

No.  of 
•years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Beaver    Pa                 

4 

April  30 

7 

May      I 

April  22    1886 

Renovo    Pa                 

7 

May      5 

Shelter  Island    NY               

17 

May      2 

Portland    Conn    

7 

May      6 

May      2    1886 

14 

May      8 

Randolph    Vt           

8 

May      o 

May      2    1886 

8 

Mav      o 

Southern  Maine   .  . 

8 

May     10 

Quebec,  Can  

7 

May    14 

Southern  New  Brunswick   
Pictou    Nova  Scotia        

7 

May     14 

May      9,  1905 

North  River,  Prince  Edward  I  si.  . 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans  and  vicinity   

10 

March  5 

May    30,  1890 
Feb   22   1893 

Helena    Ark                        .       ... 

April    2 

Eubank,   Ky  

St.  Louis    Mo 

7 

April  10    1897 

Waterloo    Ind        

8 

May      I 

April  27    1902 

Oberlin,   Ohio   

6 

May      5 

May      I    1900 

Southern   Ontario 

ii 

May      6 

May      i    1885 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa    Ont 

10 

17 

May     10 
Mav     it 

May      7,  1896 
May      7    1896 

Chicago,    111       

9 

May      8 

Mav      ^    1800 

May      8 

Lanesboro    Minn                         .  .   . 

M~v      o 

May      6    1890 

Fall  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
ecord 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of  last 
one  seen 

Grinnell     la 

September  20 

September  21    1887 

Ottawa,  Ont    .  .   

3 

September  11 

September  13,  1889 

Toronto    Ont 

3 

September  28    1898 

Glen  Ellyn,  111  

September  28 

October     i,  1897 

St    John    New  Brunswick 

September  17    1889 

Pittsfield,  Me  

September  24 

September  30,  1898 

Hartford    Conn 

4 

October  13 

October  20    1900 

Southeastern  New  York  

3 

October    7 

October  12    1891 

Renovo    Pa 

4 

October    8 

October  12    1901 

Berwyn,  Pa     

5 

October  15 

October  31    1893 

Raleigh   N    C 

5 

October  10 

October  14    1890 

New  Orleans  and  vicinity  

9 

October  18 

October  26    1890 

4 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. —  During  its  migration  this  is  a  gener- 
ally distributed  species  preferring,  however,  deciduous  to  coniferous 
trees — except  as  it  visits  cypresses — but  when  settled  for  the  summer 
we  may  look  for  it  only  where  the  usnea  moss  grows  in  which  it 
builds  its  nest. 


PARULA  WARBLER  107 

Although  this  moss  is  parasitic  on  many  kinds  of  trees  and  bushes, 
it  requires  a  moist,  humid  atmosphere  and,  in  consequence,  our  War- 
bler makes  its  home  in  wet,  swampy  places.  The  restriction  of  the 
moss  to  comparatively  limited  areas  often  induces  a  number  of  pairs 
of  Parulas  to  nest  near  one  another.  Rawson5  mentions  a  swamp 
near  Norwich,  Connecticut,  containing  seventy-five  pairs. 

Some  difficulty  may  be  experienced  in  identifying  fall  specimens, 
but  in  the  spring  the  Parula  is  unquestionably  a  blue  bird  and  as  such 
likely  to  be  confused  with  few  other  Warblers.  Furthermore,  its 
conspicuous  wing-bars  allied  to  its  small  size  and  chickadee-like 
(hence  the  name  Parula,  a  diminutive  of  Parus,  a  titmouse)  habit  of 
feeding  while  hanging  back  downward,  are  good  field  characters. 

Gerald  Thayer  writes  that  the  Parula  is  "common  about  the  base 
of  Mt.  Monadnock  in  woodland  bogs  where  the  trees — firs  and  spruces 
and  red  maples,  etc., — are  thickly  hung  with  usnea  moss.  But  we 
have  also  found  several  pairs  of  breeding  Parulas  in  drier  virgin 
woods  and  old  second  growth  where  usnea  was  rare.  The  only  nest 
I  have  seen  was  in  an  usnea  swamp,  about  twenty  feet  up  in  a  bearded, 
scrawny,  two-thirds-dead  fir  balsam.  It  was  not  only  made  of  usnea, 
but  made  of  a  long,  free-hanging  usnea  beard  looped  up  and  spliced 
onto  itself,  thus  forming  a  suspended  basket-nest  with  a  roof, — and 
a  small  side  entrance.  It  was  big  for  the  size  of  the  birds, 
and  suggested  a  European  Long-tailed  Tit's  nest.  In  certain  views 
from  the  ground,  it  showed  globose  and  dark  against  the  sky.  The 
three  eggs  lay  on  a  scanty  bed  of  wild  cherry  stems — the  only  'imported* 
building  material  the  nest  contained. 

"The  Parula  is  less  nervous  in  its  movements  than  most  of  our 
Warblers,  and  it  is  also  among  the  tamest  of  them.  Its  'beat'  lies 
between  the  forest  under-scrub  and  the  tops  of  all  but  the  very 
highest  trees.  A  blue-gray,  black-cheeked  Warbler,  with  conspicuous 
white  wing-marks,  much  white  in  the  tail,  and  a  transverse  dusky 
smudge,  sometimes  partly  reddish  brown,  on  its  yellow  breast — such  is 
the  adult  male  Parula.  His  greenish  yellow  saddle  being  almost  of  one 
shade  with  the  encompassing  blue-gray,  is  very  inconspicuous  in  life." 
(Thayer,  MS.} 

Song. — "The  Parula  is  weak-voiced,  and  its  call  notes,  as  far  as  I 
know,  are  slight  and  barely  peculiar;  but  it  has  at  least  three  main 
songs,  with  a  great  range  of  variations.  All  may  be  recognized,  or  at 
least  distinguished  from  the  weak  songs  of  the  Dendroicce,  like  the 
Blackburnian  and  Bay-breast,  by  their  beady,  buzzy  tone.  In  phrasing, 
in  everything  but  this  tone-quality,  certain  variations  of  the  Parula's 


I08  PARULA  WARBLER 

and  of  the  Blackburnian's  songs  very  nearly  meet  and  overlap :  but  the 
tell-tale  tones  remains  unchanged, — wheezy  and  beady  in  the  one, 
smooth  as  glass  in  the  other.  Commonest  of  the  Northern  Parula's 
three  main  songs  is  probably  the  short,  unbroken  buzz,  uttered  on 
an  evenly-ascending  scale,  and  ending  abruptly,  with  a  slight  accentua- 
tion of  the  final  note.  Next  is  that  which  begins  with  several  notes  of 
the  same  beady  character,  but  clearly  separated,  and  finishes,  likewise 
on  an  ascending  scale,  with  a  brief  congested  buzz.  The  third  main 
song  is  based  on  an  inversion  of  the  second — a  buzz  followed  by  a  few 
separate  drawled  notes,  high-pitched  like  the  buzz-ending  of  the  two 
other  songs.  All  three  vary  and  intervary  perplexingly."  (Thayer, 
MS.)  Miss  Paddock  describes  the  Parula's  song  as  "a  rapid  trill  end- 
ing explosively"  and  writes  it  as  follows: 


Nesting  Site. — In  a  hanging  bunch  of  usnea  moss  from  three 
to  thirty  or  more  feet  above  the  ground;  more  rarely  "at  the  end 
of  a  drooping  spruce  branch"  (Jacobs9.) 

Nest. — As  a  rule,  the  bird  selects  a  favorable  bunch  of  moss, 
gathers  or  weaves  the  bottom  together,  lines  it  scantily,  or  not  at  all, 
with  fine  grasses  and  forms  an  entrance  at  one  side.  Brewster6,  how- 
ever, describes  a  nest  taken  at  Stoneham,  Mass.,  which  in  shape  and 
manner  of  attachment  resembled  a  Baltimore  Oriole's  nest.  No  bunches 
of  Usnea  large  enough  for  use  in  the  usual  manner,  being  available, 
the  builder  had  apparently  gathered  bits  of  the  moss  here  and  there 
with  which  to  construct  a  home. 

A  nest  found  by  Jacobs9,  at  Blacksville,  West  Virginia,  appears 
to  differ  from  the  usual  type.  It  was  "well  concealed  among  twigs 
at  the  end  of  a  drooping  spruce  branch,  nine  feet  up.  *  *  *  The 
composition  was  chiefly  of  fine  grasses,  with  a  slight  mixture  of  Usnea 
moss,  vegetable  fiber,  and  small  bits  of  wool."  A  second  nest,  simi- 
larly placed,  resembled  the  first  but  "contained  a  goodly  supply  of 
hickory  catkins  and  hair,  as  well  as  some  fine  rootlets  in  the  lining." 

Eggs. — The  eggs  resemble  those  of  the  Southern  Parula. 

Nesting  Dates. — New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  i8-June  14  (Bishop)  ; 
Lancaster,  N.  H.,  May  3i-June  12  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  May  31- 


BENNETT'S  WARBLER  109 

June   17   (Knight)',  Ann  Arbor,  Mich,    (near),  May    12    (Wood), 
Becker  Co.,  Minn.,  May  28  (C.  W.  C.) 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  T.  M.  BREWER,  Am.  Nat.,  I,  1867,  117;  XVII,  1875,  439-  (2)  TRIPPE, 
Am.  Nat.,  II,  1868,  177.  (3)  W.  W.  WORTHINGTON,  Blue  Yellow-backed 
Warbler  Nesting  on  Shelter  Island,  Orn.  and  O61.,  VI;  1881,  62.  (4)  C.  H. 
ANDROS,  The  Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  IX,  1884,  147.  (q) 
/.  M.  W.  [=C.  L.  RAWSON],  Norwich,  Conn.,  The  Parula  Warbler— Its  Nest 
and  Eggs,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIII,  1888,  i.  (6)  WM.  BREWSTER,  An  Unusual 
Nest  of  the  Parula  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIII,  1888,  46.  (7)  J.  H.  BOWLES, 
Notes  on  the  Parula  Warbler,  Nidologist,  II,  1895,  63.  (8)  M.  L.  C.  WILDE, 
Nesting  of  the  Parula  Warbler  (Compsothlypis  americana)  in  Cape  May  County, 
New  Jersey,  Auk,  XIV,  1897,  289.  (9)  J.  W.  JACOBS,  Some  Notes  on  the 
Summer  Birds  of  Monongalia  Co.,  West  Virginia,  Gleanings,  (published  by 
author  at  Waynesburg,  Pa.),  IV,  9. 

BENNETTS  WARBLER 

COMPSOTHLYPIS   PITIAYUMI    NIGRILORA  (Coues)    Plate  VIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Similar  to  Compsothlypis  a.  americana  but 
cheeks  black;  underparts  yellow  becoming  white  on  the  lower  belly;  breast 
tinged  with  orange  brown  and  without  black;  no  white  about  eye;  sides  of 
throat,  at  junction  of  yellow  and  black,  with  traces  of  white.  Length  (skin), 
3.90;  wing,  2.00;  tail,  1.50;  bill,  .38. 

General  Distribution. — Breeds  in  Northeastern  Mexico  and  along- 
the  lower  Rio  Grande  in  Texas.  It  winters  in  Mexico  and  has  been 
taken  the  last  week  of  February,  1880,  on  the  Rio  Grande  near 
Hidalgo. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — At  the  time  of  its  discovery  by  Mr. 
Sennett  in  the  Rio  Grande  Valley,  this  bird  was  supposed  to  be  a 
distinct  species;  it  proves,  however,  to  be  the  most  northern  repre- 
sentative of  a  form  of  Parula  Warbler  which  ranges  over  the  greater 
part  of  South  America  and  northward  through  Central  America  and 
Mexico  to  the  lower  Rio  Grande.  There  it  evidently  resembles  our 
Southern  Parula  in  habits,  living,  Merrill3  says,  "among  thick  woods 
and  near  the  edges  of  lagoons  where  there  is  Spanish  moss." 

Nesting  Site. — Merrill2  found  a  nest  near  Brownsville,  Texas, 
eight  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  bunch  of  Spanish  'moss.'  Sennett1 
records  one  from  Lomita,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  which  was  placed  in  a 
"mistletoe-like  orchid"  ten  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest. — Merrill's  nest  evidently  resembles  that  of  the  Parula 
Warbler  in  the  southern  states,  being  constructed  in  the  Spanish  moss 
and  lined  with  a  few  horse-hairs.  Sennett  describes  his  nest  as  "con 


110  OLIVE  WARBLER 

structed  very  simply,  being  formed  by  parting  the  gray  leaves  of  the 
orchid  and  digging  into  its  center  from  the  side,  a  cavity  of  some  two 
inches  in  diameter  being  made  with  an  opening  of  one-and-a-quarter 
inches.  The  bottom  and  sides  are  lined  pretty  well  up  with  short 
cottony  wood  fibers,  forming  a  fine  matting  for  the  eggs  to  rest  upon." 
The  identity  of  this  nest,  however,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  satis- 
factorily established. 

Eggs. — Similar  to  those  of  the  Parula  Warbler. 

Nesting  Dates. — Brownesville,  Texas,  July  5,  nest  with  three 
young  (Merrill) ;  Lomita,  Texas,  May  17,  nest  with  one  egg 
(Sennett). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  G.  B.  SENNETT,  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  and  Geog.  Surv.  Terr..  IV,  1878, 
12.  (2)  Ibid.,  V,  1897,  384.  (3)  J.  C.  MERRILL,  Notes  on  the  Ornithology  of 
Southern  Texas,  etc.,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  I,  1878,  123. 

Genus  PEUCEDRAMUS  Coues 

The  single  species  contained  in  this  genus  has,  by  most  authors, 
been  placed  under  Dendroica,  but  it  obviously  has  as  much  claim  to 
generic  distinction  as  several  other  Warblers  which  are  conceded 
that  rank  and  I  follow  Mr.  Ridgway  in  recognizing  Peucedramus  as 
generically  separable  from  Dendroica.  From  Dendroica  it  differs 
chiefly  in  its  slenderer,  more  rounded  bill,  proportionately  longer  wings 
(about  i.oo  inch  longer  than  the  tail)  and  decidedly  forked  tail,  the 
central  tail-feathers  being  more  than  .25  inches  shorter  than  the  outer 
ones. 

In  general  color  and  pattern  of  coloration  Peucedramus  is 
markedly  unlike  Dendroica,  from  all  the  species  of  which  the  male 
differs  in  requiring  two  years  to  acquire  adult  plumage. 

OLIVE  WARBLER 

PEUCEDRAMUS  OLIVACEUS  (Gir«ud)    PUte  VI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Outer  vane  of  outer  tail-feather  in  part  white; 
adult  J  with  whole  head  and  neck  orange-brown,  a  broad  black  band  through 
the  eye;  young  <£  and  $  with  the  same  parts  yellowish,  a  dusky  eye-band. 
Length  (skin),  4.90;  wing,  3.00;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .45. 

Adult  J,  Spring.— Head,  neck  and  breast  orange-brown,  a  broad  black 
band  through  the  eye;  back  grayish  olive-green;  tail  black,  the  other  pair  of 
feathers  white  on  both  webs  except  at  the  end,  the  next  pair  narrowly  white 
on  the  outer  web  and  largely  white  on  the  inner  web,  the  third  usually  with 
some  white  on  the  inner  web;  wings  black,  narrowly  edged  with  olive-green: 


OLIVE  WARBLER  m 

fourth  to  seventh  primaries  white  on  outer  web  at  base,  greater  and  median 
coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white;  center  of  belly  white,  sides  gray. 

Adult  £,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d1  in  Spring  but  head  and  neck  duller, 
back  more  olive,  sides  browner. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Not  distinguishable  from  young  ?  in  Fall. 

Young  3,  Spring. — Not  distinguishable  in  color  from  adult  $  in  Spring, 
the  adult  plumage  evidently  not  being  acquired  until  the  second  Fall,  at  least. 

Adult  °.,  Spring. — Crown  and  nape  dull  olive-yellow,  a  broad  dusky  band 
through  the  eye;  back  olive-gray;  basal  half  of  outer  web  of  outer  tail-feather 
white,  inner  web  largely  white,  next  feather  sometimes  with  white  on  the  inner 
web;  wings  as  in  c?  but  white  areas  smaller;  throat  and  breast  dull  yellowish; 
belly  white,  sides  gray. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  crown  tipped  with  grayish, 
the  throat  and  breast  with  buffy,  the  sides,  with  brownish;  white  tips  to 
greater  wing-coverts  with  some  yellowish. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall  but  crown  and  nape  grayer; 
ear-coverts  duskier,  throat  and  breast  paler. 

Nestling. — Above  dusky  olive-brown,  a  buffy  postocular  mark  passes  behind 
the  auriculars  to  the  side  of  the  throat;  greater  wing-coverts  tipped  with  yel- 
lowish, median  coverts,  with  white;  throat  and  breast  buffy  or  pale  greenish; 
belly  white,  sides  brownish  gray. 

General  Distribution. — Breeds  from  Guatemala  north  to  southern 
Arizona.  Winters  in  the  highlands  of  Mexico  and  Guatemala.  A 
few  may  winter  in  southern  Arizona,  as  one  was  taken  there  February 

21. 

Migration. — The  arrival  of  the  first  was  noted  April  6,  1902,  in 
the  Huachuca  Mountains,  Arizona. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  species  was  first  definitely 
recorded  from  the  United  States  by  H.  W.  Henshaw  who  secured 
three  specimens,  on  Mt.  Graham,  Arizona,  in  September,  1874. 
In  March,  1880,  Stephens,  as  quoted  by  Brewster1,  found  it 
apparently  not  uncommon  in  the  Chiricahua  Mountains,  where,  four- 
teen years  later,  Price2  first  discovered  it  nesting.  Three  nests  were 
subsequently  taken  by  Howard3  in  the  Huachuca  Mountains,  making 
a  total  of  four  which  have  thus  far  been  recorded. 

The  Olive  Warbler  is  a  bird  of  open  pine  forests  where  in  general 
habits  it  reminds  one  strongly  of  the  Pine  Warbler.  During  the  last 
week  in  April,  1897,  I  found  it  to  be  an  abundant  inhabitant  of  the 
pines  at  Las  Vigas,  in  the  state  of  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  at  an  altitude 
of  8,000  feet.  Young  of  the  year  were  already  on  the  wing.  It  fed 
leisurely  among  the  terminal  branches  creeping  or  hopping  along 
the  twigs  without  displaying  the  activity  of  the  fluttering  Warblers. 
Occasionally  it  descended  to  the  ground  for  food,  but  I  do  not  recall 
seeing  it  cling  to  the  trunk  of  a  tree  as  a  Pine  Warbler  does  at  times. 


112  OLIVE  WARBLER 

Song. — "A  liquid,  quirt,  quirt,  quirt,  in  a  descending  scale." 
(Price2).  The  call-note  of  the  Olive  Warbler  as  I  heard  at  Las  Vigas, 
Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  late  in  April  when  the  birds  were  feeding  young 
out  of  the  nest,  is  a  rapid  whistled  peto  closely  resembling  the  call  of 
the  Tufted  Titmouse. 

Nesting  Site. — Our  knowledge  of  the  nesting  habits  of  this  species 
is  based  on  the  studies  of  Price  and  Howard  in  the  mountains  of 
southern  Arizona,  where  four  nests  have  been  found  in  pines  saddled 
on  a  limb  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  in  a  red  fir 
in  the  fork  of  a  large  limb  about  thirty  feet  up. 

Nest. — "The  nests  are  very  beautiful  affairs  and  are  built  very 
much  like  those  of  the  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher,  and  are  composed  of 
bits  of  moss,  lichens,  fir  blossoms  and  spider  webs  with  a  lining  of  fine 
rootlets."  (Howard3.) 

Eggs. — 4.  "The  eggs  are  ovate  in  shape,  the  shell  is  fine  grained 
and  without  lustre.  The  ground  color  is  sage  green  and  the  eggs 
are  heavily  blotched  and  spotted,  especially  about  the  larger  end, 
with  clove  and  sepia  brown,  and  lighter  shades  of  drab  and 
olive  gray.  They  bear  no  resemblance  to  the  known  eggs  of  any  of 
our  Warblers.  They  measure  .65x49,  .65x49,  .65x48,  .63x48." 
(Price.)  (Figs.  37,38,  Childs  Coll.) 

Nesting  Date. — Huachuca  Mts.,  Arizona,  June  12  (Howard). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  On  a  Collection  of  Birds  lately  made  by  Mr.  F.  Ste- 
phens in  Arizona,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VII,  1882,  135.  (2)  W.  W.  PRICE,  Nest 
and  Eggs  of  the  Olive  Warbler,  Auk,  XII,  1895,  17.  (3)  O.  W.  HOWARD, 
Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull.  Cooper  Orn.  Club  (=Condor), 
I,  1899,  37- 

Genus  DENDROICA    Gray 

This,  the  largest  genus  of  the  family,  contains  the  true  Wood 
Warblers.  Among  so  many  species  there  is,  as  might  be  expected, 
much  variation  and  the  extremes  in  Dendroica,  could  one  dispose 
of  the  intermediates,  might  readily  be  placed  in  different  genera. 
As  a  whole,  however,  Dendroica  may  be  known  by  its  com- 
paratively short  (except  in  D.  dominica)  rounded,  notched  bill  with 
slightly  curved  culmen,  and  short,  but  evident  rictal  bristles.  The 
wing  is  generally  less  than  .80  inches  longer  than  the  tail ;  the  four 
outer  primaries  are  of  about  equal  length.  The  tarsus  is  longer  than 
the  middle  toe  and  nail,  the  nail  of  the  hind-toe  is  nearly  as  long  as 
the  toe. 


1.  BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 

3.  BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER,  YOUNG  MALE. 


4.  CERULEAN  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

5.  CERULEAN  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 
6  .CERULEAN  WARBIER,  YOUNG  MALE. 


YELLOW  WARBLER  113 

There  is  no  pronounced  type  of  color  in  Dendroica  but  nearly 
all  the  species  have  wing-bars  and  all  have  white  patches  in  the  tail, 
except  D.  ccstiva  and  its  allies  which  have  the  tail  marked  with  yellow. 
As  a  rule,  the  sexes  are  unlike  in  color  but  in  dominica,  gracia,  kirt- 
landi,  and  discolor  there  is  little  sexual  difference  in  plumage  and  in 
palmarum  the  sexes  cannot  be  distinguished  with  certainty. 

All  but  kirtlandi  and  palmarum  nest  in  trees  or  bushes,  these  two 
species  alone  nesting  on  the  ground ;  a  habit  which  may  account  for 
the  strong  brown  or  gray  tone  of  their  dorsal  plumage. 

Dendroica  contains  some  thirty-four  species  of  which  twenty- 
three  enter  our  limits,  the  remainder  inhabiting  Mexico,  Central 
America,  and  chiefly,  the  West  Indies.  Eastern  North  America  has  by 
far  the  larger  number  of  these  brightly  colored  birds,  no  less  than  fifteen 
of  the  twenty-three  species  occurring  in  the  Atlantic  States  but  not  in 
the  Pacific  States. 

Six  species  are  western,  and  only  one,  D.  &stiva,  (  which  in  its 
more  or  less  closely  related  forms  is  found  wherever  Dendroica  occurs) 
ranges  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

YELLOW  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  /ESTIVA  /ESTIVA  (Gmel.)     Plate  I 

Distinguishing  Characters. — A  yellow  bird;  no  white  anywhere,  inner  webs 
of  nearly  all  the  tail-feathers  largely  yellow.  Young  females  are  obscure 
olive  birds  but  may  be  known  by  the  yellow  tail  markings.  Length  (skin), 
4.60;  wing,  2.45;  tail,  1.90;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  rich  golden  yellow  sometimes  with  traces  of 
reddish  brown;  back  greenish  yellow,  rump  yellower;  tail  blackish  margined 
with  yellow,  inner  webs  of  all  but  central  feathers  yellow,  except  at  tip;  wings 
blackish  edged  with  yellow,  the  coverts  widely  margined  with  yellow;  under- 
parts  rich  golden  yellow,  breast  and  sides  conspicuously  streaked  with  reddish 
brown. 

Adult  d,  Fall. — Resembling  adult  $  in  Spring  but  crown  but  little  brighter 
than  back,  underparts  less  heavily  streaked,  the  streaks  at  times  wholly  absent. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Resembling  adult  <$  in  Fall  but  without  streaks  below. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Much  less  yellow  than  (?;  above  yellowish  olive-green, 
upper  tail-coverts  brighter;  tail-feathers  with  yellow  on  inner  webs  as  in  <?; 
wings  margined  with  yellow;  below  uniform  yellow  with  few  if  any  streaks. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Not  distinguishable  from  young  c?  in  Fall. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Less  yellow  above  than  adult  ?  in  Fall,  only  two  or  three 
outer  tail-feathers  with  yellow  on  inner  web;  underparts  pale  dusky  yellow, 
unstreaked. 

Nestling. — Above  brownish  olive,  below  whitish  tinged  with  pale  yellow. 
General  Distribution. — North  America,  except  southwestern  part, 
British  Columbia,  Alaska,  Florida,  southern  Georgia,  the  upper  por- 


YELLOW  WARBLER 


tions  of  the  eastern  mountains,  such  parts  of  the  western  mountains 
as  are  above  6,000  to  8,000  feet,  and  the  barren  grounds  of  the  Arctic. 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  throughout  its  range  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Mexico  to  Peru  and  northeastern 
Brazil;  no  West  Indian  record. 

Spring  Migration. — More  notes  have  been  contributed  by  the 
observers  on  the  Yellow  Warbler  than  on  any  other  species  of  Warbler, 
and  the  following  records  are  an  epitome  of  about  two  thousand  obser- 
vations during  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years.  The  winter  range 
of  the  Yellow  Warbler  and  its  subspecies  extends  from  western 
Mexico  to  Dutch  Guiana,  a  longitudinal  winter  range  equalled  by 
few  species.  But,  though  occuring  throughout  Central  America,  it 
is  absent  from  the  West  India  Islands,  and  reaches  the  eastern  United 
States  in  the  spring  by  a  roundabout  course  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  is  one  of  the  later  Warblers  to  arrive  in  the  Gulf  State*. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Greensboro,  Ala  

April  14,  1888 

Savannah    Ga  

April  16,  1894 

Atlanta    Ga    (near) 

April  17 

April  10,  1900 

Frogmore,  S.  C  

April  17,  1885 

Raleigh,  N.  C  

14 

April  13 

April    5,  1888 

Asheville,  N.  C    . 

4 

April  15 

April  12,  1893 

New  Market,  Va 

14 

April  22 

April  17,  1896 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  W.  Va.  .  . 
Washington,  D.  C  

7 

7 

April  23 
April  20 

April  16,  1896 
April  15    1888 

Waynesburg,  Pa  

t 

April  24 

April  17    1896 

Beaver,   Pa  

i 

April  18    1801 

Renovo,    Pa  

IO 

April  30 

Englewood,    N     J 

8 

Croton-on-Hudson,  N.  Y.    . 

7 

May      i 

Shelter  Island    N    Y 

Mav      A. 

Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y  

12 

uia.y        4 

Mav      "? 

Branchport,   N.   Y  

IO 

Arpil  20 

Alfred,   N.    Y.    .                . 

17 

,,        ^ 
May      2 

Center  Lisle,  N.  Y  

Mav      ? 

Buffalo,  N    Y 

e 

;,  '      «J 
May      i 

Jewett  City,  Conn  

16 

Mav      A 

Hadlyme,  Conn 

g 

nia.y        4 

Mav      7 

Hartford,  Conn    ... 

IO 

ii          a 
May      5 

Providence,  R.  I  

6 

\r 

May      4 

April  29    1899 

Framingham,    Mass 

IO 

Randolph,  Vt  

ii 

May      o 

Mav      A    1887 

Southern  New  Hampshire   
Orono,   Me 

ii 

4 

i  ,  '      y 

May     10 
May    1  1 

May      4,  i«y 

Plymouth,   Me  

12 

Mav    u 

May     10    18^4 

Montreal,  Can 

1  1 

",  3     •* 

May      7    1887 

Quebec,  Can  

9 

Mav    !•» 

YELLOW  WARBLER 


PI.ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
St.  John,   N.   B.    . 

6 

May    24 

May    21,  1893 

Scotch  Lake,  N.  B.  ... 

May    13,  1901 

Pictou,  N.  S  

6 

May    14 

May    10,  1895 

Halifax,  N.  S  

3" 

May    14 

May    12,  1896 

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Isl.  . 
Hamilton  River,  Que  

5 

May    25 

May    20,  1890 
May    31 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans,  La 

12 

April    6 

Helena,  Ark.   

5 

April  18 

Eubank,    Ky  

6 

April  16 

St.  Louis,  Mo  

7 

April  19 

Anril  ic    1888 

Brookville,   Ind  

8 

April  is 

Waterloo,  Ind  

ii 

A            -1 

April  25 

Columbus,  Ohio   

6 

April  22 

April  25    1886 

Wauseon,   Ohio    .  . 

10 

April  26 

April  18    1880 

Cleveland,  Ohio   

8 

April  28 

April  20    1889 

Morgan  Park,  111  

6 

May      I 

April  28    1900 

Rockford,   111  

8 

May      8 

May      i    1887 

Southern  Wisconsin 

10 

May      6 

Petersburg,   Mich  

13 

April  26 

April  19,  1894 

Strathow,   Ont  

IO 

May      i 

April  25    1897 

Listowel,  Ont  

May      2 

April  24   1885 

Ottawa,  Ont  

May      7 

May      i,  1801; 

Keokuk,  la  

April  30 

April  25    1897 

Davenport,    la  

May      I 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

May      7 

April  28   1888 

Elk  River,  Minn  

May    12 

Mav      o    1888 

Aweme,  Manitoba   

May    14 

May      9    1902 

Corpus  Christi,  Tex  

April  22    1891 

San  Antonio,  Tex  

April  15    1890 

Bonham,    Tex  

6 

April  ii 

April    8    1889 

Onaga,   Kans  

Q 

April  25 

Lincoln,   Neb  

§ 

April  28 

April  25    1891 

Western  United  States— 
Pueblo,    Colo  

May      6,  1894 

Loveland,   Colo  

May      7,  1890 

Cheyenne,    Wyo  

May    ii 

May      9,  1889 

Great  Falls,   Mont  

May     16 

May    IT,  1891 

Rathdrum,   Idaho 

May    15,  1903 

Osier,    Saskatchewan 

May    17,  1893 

Red  Deer,  Alberta    

May    1  6,  1893 

Fort  Chippewyan,  Alberta  

May    24,  1893 

Fort   Resolution,   Mackenzie    
Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  
Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  

May    25,  1860 
May    26,  1861 
May    21,  1004 

Southern   California    
Chilliwack,  B.  C  

5 

April    7 

April    5,  1889 
April  27,  1889 

Kowak,    Alaska    . 

Tune  Q,  1800 

n6 


YELLOW  WARBLER 


Fall  Migration. — The  Yellow  Warbler  begins  its  southward  mi- 
gration among  the  very  earliest  of  the  family,  and  fall  migrants  have 
been  noted  in  central  Florida  July  20  and  at  Key  West  July  26.  So 
rapid  is  the  southward  journey  that  the  arrival  of  the  first  in  the 
fall  has  been  noted  in  southeastern  Nicaragua  August  9,  1892;  San 
Jose,  Costa  Rica,  Aug.  25,  1889,  and  Aug.  24,  1890;  Bonda,  Colombia, 
August  27,  1898. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
reco 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Newport,    Ore  

September  18,  1900 

Berkeley,  Cal    . 

2 

October  5 

October  9,  1888 

Great  Falls,   Mont  

September  13,  1889 

Latitude  64°    Mackenzie 

August  10,  1903 

Aweme,   Manitoba 

3 

September    3 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

4 

August  14 

September  10,  1889 

Ottawa,    Ontario 

August  20 

September    7,  1901 

Southern   Ontario    

9 

August  23 

September    5,  1902 

Glen   Ellyn    111 

2 

September    5 

September    6,  1899 

Wauseon,    Ohio 

9 

September  15 

September  26,  1891 

North  River,   Prince  Edward  Island 
St.   John,   New   Brunswick    

2 

August  21 

September    2,  1890 

Montreal,    Can 

6 

August  26 

September    3,  1890 

Lewiston,    Me  

4 

September    I 

September    5,  1898 

Renovo,    Pa  

5 

September    6 

September  17,  1894 

Beaver,    Pa, 

3 

August  27 

September  30,  1888 

Washington,  D.  C.    . 

September  28,  1890 

Raleigh,  N.  C  

August  28,  1888 

St    Louis,  Mo 

September    3,  1896 

Onaga,    Kans  

August  24,  1894 

Bonham,    Tex  

September  12,  1889 

New    Orleans,    La 

October  27    1893 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Yellow  Warbler  is  a  bit  of 
feathered  sunshine.  In  his  plumes  dwells  the  gold  of  the  sun,  in  his 
voice  its  brightness  and  good  cheer.  We  have  not  to  seek  him  in  the 
depths  of  the  forest,  the  haunt  of  nearly  all  his  congeners,  he  comes 
to  us  and  makes  his  home  near  ours.  And  so  because  of  his  beauty 
and  sociability,  the  Yellow  Warbler  has  become  the  best  known  mem- 
ber of  his  family.  Known,  indeed,  to  many  who  are  not  aware  that 
he  has  a  large  number  of  near  relatives  some  of  whom  are  even  more 
attractive. 

The  habit  of  nesting  in  fruit  and  shade  trees  and  lawn  or  garden 
shrubbery  is,  of  course,  of  recent  origin,  and  the  bird  is  by  no  means 
so  abundant  in  growth  of  this  type  as  it  is  in  willows  near  water, 
where  the  Yellow  Warbler  seems  as  much  a  part  of  the  tree  as  its 
own  foliage.  In  smaller  numbers  it  frequents  also  other  open  growths 


YELLOW  WARBLER  117 

and,  indeed,  one  may  find  it  in  almost  any  trees  except  those  of  the 
deep  woods. 

Walter  Fisher  writes  that  "in  California  the  Yellow  Warbler  is 
common  during  Spring  and  early  Summer  among  the  willows,  poplars, 
and  alders  that  line  most  of  the  streams  and  dry  water-courses  of  the 
lowlands ;  and  it  is  found  also  at  lower  altitudes  in  the  mountains, 
about  as  high  as  the  black  oak  ranges.  Its  song  and  characteristic 
chip  are  heard  almost  continually  in  willow  thickets  of  bottom  lands, 
where  the  birds  move  busily  to  and  fro  in  the  tree  tops."  {Fisher,  MS.} 

It  is  remarkable  that  although  Warblers  are  imposed  upon  by 
the  Cowbird  more  than  any  other  birds,  the  Yellow  Warbler  alone 
appears  to  resent  the  intrusion  of  the  strange  egg,  so  unlike  that  of 
any  other  Warbler,  and  to  have  a  definite  method  of  avoiding  its  incu- 
bation. The  building  of  a  platform  or  second  nest-bottom  over  the 
unwelcome  egg  may  with  this  species  be  called  a  habit  and  numerous 
cases  are  on  record  where  the  unfortunate  Warbler  has  been  visited 
three  times  by  the  Cowbird  and  has  built  as  many  floors  to  its  home, 
sealing,  as  it  were,  the  unwelcome  contribution. 

Song. — "While  there  is  no  little  variability  there  is  little  likelihood 
of  confounding  any  of  the  variations  with  other  species.  Now  it  is  sweet 
sweet  szveet  sweet  sweeter  sweeter,  now  sweet  sweet  sweet  sweetie, 
again  wee-chee,  we-chee,  wee-i-u;  once  more  wee-chee,  chee,  chee, 
chur-ivee.  Over  all  presides  the  bird's  distinct  individuality.  In  all 
the  variations  I  have  heard  the  penultimate  syllable  is  at  a  higher  pitch, 
if  the  last  phrase  be  three  syllabled,  lower  if  the  last  phrase  be  two 
syllabled.  There  is  also  a  tendency  to  an  increase  in  cadence  to  the 
last.  The  whole  song  is  forcible  and  loud,  but  smooth  and  pleasing. 
It  will  be  seen  that  in  each  variation  there  are  two  parts,  though 
the  last  may  be  but  a  double  syllable. 

"There  is  no  second  song  period,  because  singing  does  not  cease 
until  the  last  of  July  or  the  first  week  in  August.  It  should  be 
remarked,  however,  that  there  is  a  marked  decrease  in  singing  after 
the  middle  of  July,  at  least  in  northern  Ohio.  Sometimes  individuals 
are  heard  singing  after  the  middle  of  August  for  a  few  days"  (Jones.) 

"There  are  two  common  call-notes  used  in  the  fall.  The  song 
is  more  often  heard  in  spring  than  the  call-notes,  and  is  rarely  or 
never  uttered  in  the  fall.  The  commoner  of  these  two  notes  is  the  dzt 
uttered  by  many  Warblers;  the  other  is  a  softer,  less  decisive 
chip,  much  like  that  uttered  by  the  Parula  and  Prairie  Warblers. 
The  song  is  generally  uttered  while  the  singer  moves  slowly  about 
among  the  branches;  it  is  simple,  but  lively  and  pleasing,  resembling 


il8  YELLOW  WARBLER 

the  following,  with  a  descending  intonation:  Tsiccct,  tsiccct,  . 
tsec-tsce-tsee-tsee-tsec-tsee.     The  only  note  I  have  heard  uttered  in 
flight  is  the  sibilant  chirp  mentioned  above,  one  of  the  characteristic 
sounds  of  late  summer."     (Allison,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — Usually  in  bushes,  saplings,  or  briers  three  to 
eight  feet  up,  but  not  infrequently  in  trees  as  high  as  forty  feet  up. 

Nest. — Compact,  symmetrical,  and  well-woven,  of  silver-gray 
hempen  fibers  and  fine  grasses  with  a  conspicuous  amount  of  plant- 
down  ;  lined  with  cottony  plant-down,  fine  grasses,  sometimes  hair  or 
a  few  feathers.  Bowles  states  that  nests  of  this  species  found  at 
Tacoma,  Washington,  often  have  a  heavy  lining  of  feathers.  This 
is  the  only  bird  that  has  the  habit  of  building  a  second  and,  when  the 
necessity  arises,  a  third  story  to  its  nest  to  cover  the  unwelcome  egg  of 
the  Cowbird. 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  usually  4,  in  a  large  series  of  sets,  one  contain- 
ing 6  eggs  occurs,  but  two-thirds  have  four  eggs  each.  Ground  color 
ranges  from  grayish  and  greenish  white  to  a  rich  green  shade,  over 
this  are  markings  of  umber  brown,  blackish,  lilac-gray,  and  purplish- 
brown  in  all  varieties  of  spots,  splashes,  and  blotches,  always  tending 
to  wreathe  around  the  large  end,  but  many  are  heavily  marked  all 
over.  Size;  average,  .68x.5o;  extremes,  .75x^2,  .60x48,  73X-53, 
.62x47.  (Figs.  39-41.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Burning  Springs,  W.  Va.,  May  14  (C.  W.  C.)  ; 
Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May  14-June  10  (Jacobs}  ;  New  York  City,  May 
20-July  4  (building)  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  20- June 
30  (Bishop)  ;  Cambridge,Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying,  May  23-30 
(Breivster)  ;  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  7  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor,  Me., 
May  29-June  30  (Knight)  ;  Listowel,  Ont.,  June  i-June  22  (Kells) ; 
Oberlin,  O.,  May  i-June  i  (Jones)  ;  Jasper  Co.,  la.,  May  16 
(C.  W.  C.)  ;  Boulder,  Colo.,  June  5  (C.  W.  C.) ;  Denver,  Colo.,  June 
6  (Dille)  ;  San  Jose,  Calif.,  April  5  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Tacoma.  Wash.,  May 
24- June  17  (Bowles)  ;  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  May  5,  Ypsilanti,  Mich., 
June  23  (Wood'). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  C.  J.  MORRISON,  Yellow  Warbler  vs.  Cowbird.  Orn.  and  O61.,  IX. 
1884.  124.  (2)  J.  P.  N.  [ORRIS],  Eggs  of  the  Western  Yellow  (=Yellow) 
Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  185.  (3)  A.  B.  DUNNING,  Yellow  Warbler 
(in  E.  Mass.),  Oologist,  IX,  1892,  35.  (4)  N.  F.  POSSON,  Incessancy  of  the 
Yellow  Warbler's  Song,  Ibid.,  IX.  1892,  65.  (5)  MORRIS  GIBBS,  The  Blossom- 
Eater,  Nidologist,  II,  1894,  48. 


PLATE  X 


1.  MYRTLE  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE.  4.  AUDUBON'S  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  MYRTLE  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE.  5.  AUDUBON'S  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMAL 

3.  MYRTLE  WARBLER,  YOUNG.  6.  AUDUBON'S  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 

(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


SONORA  YELLOW  WARBLER  119 

SONORA  YELLOW  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  ^ESTIVA  SONORANA  Brewst. 

Subspecific  Characters. — Resembles  Dendroica  cestiva  (estiva  but  adult  <£ 
paler  above,  the  back  yellower,  the  feathers  usually  with  dark  shaft 
streaks;  the  tail  with  more  yellow,  all  the  feathers,  including  the  central  pair 
being  yellow  at  the  base  on  both  webs;  streaks  below  finer,  less  numerous, 
sometimes  barely  evident. 

Adult  ?  grayer  above  and  below  than  adult  ?  estiva,  the  underparts  some- 
times grayish  tinged  with  green. 

General  Distribution. — Southwestern  United  States  and  north- 
western Mexico. 

Summer  Range. — Western  Texas  (Frontera,  Fort  Hancock, 
etc.,)  southern  New  Mexico,  southern  Arizona,  and  southward  into 
northwestern  Mexico  (Ridgw.}. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  southward  to  Nicaragua. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  southwestern  form  of  the  Yellow 
Warbler  resembles  the  eastern  bird  in  habits  and,  like  it,  shows  a 
marked  preference  for  willows.  Owing  to  the  aridity  of  the  country 
in  which  it  lives,  suitable  haunts  are  less  common  than  in  the  east 
and  the  bird  is  proportionately  less  numerous. 

Nesting  Site. — Along  the  San  Pedro  River  in  southern  Arizona, 
Howard1  found  "several  nests  placed  in  willow  and  mesquite  trees,, 
generally  in  upright  forks  from  ten  to  twenty-five  feet  up." 

Nest. — "The  nests  are  very  much  like  those  of  the  Yellow  War- 
bler." (Howard1.} 

Eggs. — Usually  4.  Ground  color,  in  the  sets  I  have  examine  d, 
has  been  paler  than  in  eggs  of  the  Yellow  Warbler,  but  the  markings 
are  the  same.  Size;  a  typical  set  of  four  measures,  .7ox.5i,  .7OX.5O. 
.68x.52,  .69X.5I. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  O.  W.  HOWARD,  Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull.  Cooper 
Orn.  Club  (=Condor),  I,  1899,  39. 

ALASKAN  YELLOW  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  ESTIVA  RUBIGINOSA    (Pall.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Dendroica  (estiva  (estiva  but  slightly 
smaller,  adult  c?  darker  above,  the  crown  of  nearly  the  same  color  as  the  back, 
only  the  forehead  yellower;  the  rump  more  nearly  the  color  of  the  back  than 
in  cestiva. 


120  CALIFORNIA  YELLOW  WARBLER 

Adult  $  and  young  darker  (greener,  less  yellow)  above  than  those  of 
astiva.  Wing,  2.40;  tail,  1.70;  bill,  .40. 

General  Distribution. — British  Columbia  and  Alaska. 

Summer  Range. — Vancouver  Island  northward  through  British 
Columbia  and  Alaska,  both  on  the  coast  and  in  the  interior. 

Winter  Range. — Migrates  southward  through  California  and 
winters  in  Mexico  and  Central  America. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  his  admirable  work  on  Alaskan 
birds  Nelson1  writes,  "This  is  perhaps  the  most  abundant  Warbler 
throughout  Alaska.  It  is  found  everywhere  in  the  wooded  interior, 
or  the  bushy  borders  of  the  water-courses,  or  frequenting  the  scat- 
tered clumps  of  stunted  alders.  *  *  *  Its  lively  presence,  even 
among  the  pleasant  surroundings  of  the  south,  lends  animation  to  the 
scene,  and  even  more  impressive  is  its  presence  under  the  dismal  skies 
and  in  the  damp,  depressing  climate  of  the  north,  where  such  visitants 
are  only  too  rare." 

Nesting  Site. — "Breeds  on  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean 
wherever  it  can  find  a  willow  or  alder  patch  wherein  to  place  its  nest 
and  shelter  its  young.  *  *  *  It  is  the  only  Warbler,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Black-capped  Flycatcher  (Sylvania  pusilla  pileolatd), 
which  nests  in  the  alder-thickets  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Michaels." 
(Nelson1.} 

Nest. — The  nest  does  not  appear  to  have  been  described.  Doubt- 
less it  resembles  that  of  Dendroica  (estiva  (estiva. 

Eggs. — No  authentic  sets  of  this  bird's  eggs  are  recorded,  but 
doubtless  they  resemble  those  of  the  Yellow  Warbler. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  E.  W.  NELSON,  Natural  History  Collections  made  in  Alaska,  1887,  201. 
(These  notes  are  given  under  the  name  Dendroica  estiva,  the  Alaskan  form 
not  being  recognized  until  1897.) 

CALIFORNIA  YELLOW  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  .-tSTIVA    BREWSTERI   Grinn. 

Subsfiecific  Characters. — "Resembling  Dendroica  astiva  (estiva,  from  which 
it  differs  in  smaller  size,  paler  (or  less  brightly  yellow)  coloration,  and,  in  the 
male,  narrower  streaking  on  under  surface;  differs  from  Dendroica  cestiva 
rubiginosa  in  smaller  size  and  yellower  coloration,  and  from  Dendroica  (estiva 
sonorana  in  smaller  size  and  much  darker  coloration."  Male,  wing,  2.45 ;  tail, 
1.96;  female  wing,  2.33;  tail,  1.93.  Grinnell,  Condor,  1903,  72. 

General  Distribution. — "Breeds  in  Transition  and  Upper  Sonoran 
Zones,  west  of  the  Cascades  and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  from  Washington 
to  Southern  California;  winter  home  unknown."  (A.  O.  U.) 


MANGROVE  WARBLER  12 1 

MANGROVE  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  BRYANTI  CASTANEICEPS    Ridgw.    Plate  I 

Distinguishing  Characters.— Adult  <$  with  head  all  around  and  throat  red- 
dish chestnut;  both  sexes  with  yellow  on  inner  webs  of  two  or  more  tail- 
feathers.  Length  (skin),  4.65;  wing,  2.40;  tail,  1.80;  bill,  .45. 

Adult  d1,  Spring.— Head  all  around  and  throat  reddish  chestnut;  back 
yellow  olive-green,  the  rump  brighter;  inner  webs  of  all  but  central  tail-feathers 
largely  yellow;  wings  black  margined  with  yellow;  underparts,  except  throat, 
rich  yellow  faintly  streaked  with  reddish  brown. 

Adult  <$,  Fall.— Not  seen. 

Young  d. — Not  seen. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Above  olive-green,  much  darker  and  greener  than  in 
c?;  tail  black  the  two  outer  feathers  with  large  yellow  patches  on  the  inner 
web  near  the  tip;  wings  black  margined  with  greenish  yellow;  below  uniform 
pale,  dull  yellow. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Not  distinguishable  from  adult  ?  in  Spring. 

Young  $. — Above  grayish  olive-green,  rump  brighter;  tail  blackish,  exter- 
nally greenish,  webs  of  all  but  central  feathers  narrowly  margined  with  yellow; 
wings  and  their  coverts  blackish,  quills  margined,  coverts  tipped  with  dull 
greenish;  below  whitish  more  or  less  washed  or  obscurely  streaked  with 
yellow,  the  under  tail-coverts  pale  yellow. 

Nestling. — Not  seen. 

General  Distribution. — A  non-migratory  species  resident  in 
western  Mexico  and  Lower  California  north  to  Magdalena  Bay. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  observations  of  Belding1,  Bryant2, 
and  Frazar3  show  that  in  Lower  California  this  Pacific  Coast  form 
is  found  only  in  the  red  mangroves  (Rhisophora  mangle)  and  it  is, 
consequently,  of  local  distribution. 

Belding  records  it  from  La  Paz,  Pichalinque  Bay  and  Espiritu 
Island  where  he  considered  it  resident.  At  La  Paz  he  found  it  to  be 
common,  but  in  March,  1889,  Frazar  could  secure  only  eight  specimens 
there.  Bryant  observed  it  in  Magdalena  Bay  and  on  Santa  Mar- 
garita Island. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  L.  BELDING,  Catalogue  of  a  Collection  of  Birds  made  at  Various  Points 
along  the  Western  Coast  of  Lower  California,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V, 
J883>  536.  (2)  W.  BRYANT,  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Lower  California, 
Proc.  Calif.  Acad.  Sci.,  2nd  Ser.  II,  1889,  309.  (3)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of 
the  Cape  Region  of  Lower  California,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zoology,  XLI,  1902, 
181. 

MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  MAGNOLIA  (Wils.)     Plate  XI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Adults  of  both  sexes  have  the  crown  and 
nape  gray,  a  white  stripe  behind  the  eye,  the  rump  yellow,  the  white  patches 


122  MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 

of  the  tail  near  the  center,  instead  of  at  the  end  of  the  feather.  The  black 
bases  of  the  tail  feathers  are  concealed  by  the  crissum  and,  seen  from  below, 
the  tail  appears  to  be  white  broadly  tipped  with  black.  In  young  birds  the 
white  is  much  decreased  in  extent  but  its  position  in  the  tail,  together  with 
the  yellow  rump,  is  diagnostic.  Length  (skin),  4.50;  wing,  2.30;  tail,  1.95; 
bill,  .35- 

Adult  o",  Spring. — Crown  and  nape  bluish  gray,  a  white  line  behind  the 
eye  and  a  white  mark  on  the  lower  part  of  eye-ring;  frontlet,  cheeks  and 
back  black,  the  latter  sometimes  with  olive  and  becoming  greenish  towards  the 
yellow  rump;  upper  tail-coverts  black;  tail  black,  all  but  the  central  part  of 
feathers  with  a  white  patch  on  the  inner  half  of  the  web  about  half-way  to  the 
tip;  wings  blackish  edged  with  gray,  the  median  and  greater  coverts  broadly 
marked  with  white  forming  a  conspicuous  white  wing-patch ;  below  yellow 
becoming  white  on  the  crissum,  the  throat  unmarked,  a  black  band  on  the 
upper  breast  from  which  run  rows  of  heavy  black  streaks  on  the  sides. 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — Quite  unlike  adult  c?  in  Spring;  crown  and  nape  brownish 
gray;  eye-ring  whitish;  back  olive-green  more  or  less  indistinctly  streaked 
with  black;  rump  yellow;  tail  as  in  Spring;  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white 
forming  two  white  bars ;  below  yellow,  sides  with  partly  concealed  black  streaks, 
upper  breast  with  a  faint  dusky  band. 

Young  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  and  not  always  distinguishable 
from  it,  but  black  streaks  of  back  and  sides  averaging  lighter. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  d"  in  Spring  but  crown  not  so  bluish 
gray  or  cheeks  so  pronouncedly  black ;  back  olive-green  spotted  with  black ;  yel- 
low of  rump  paler;  upper  tail-coverts  broadly  tipped  with  gray;  wing-coverts 
with  less  white,  at  times  merely  tipped  not  margined ;  black  streaks  below  lighter, 
less  apt  to  form  a  band  on  the  upper  breast. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Crown  browner  than  that  of  adult  ?  in  Spring,  a  whitish 
eye-ring  but  no  white  stripe  behind  eye ;  cheeks  much  like  crown ;  back  brown- 
ish olive-green  with  a  few  partly  concealed  black  streaks  posteriorly;  white  on 
wing-coverts  less  pronounced  and  with  a  brownish  tinge;  sides  with  a  few 
partly  concealed  black  streaks;  the  dusky  band  on  upper  breast  well  developed. 
In  this  plumage  resembling  young  c?  in  Fall  but  wing-coverts  browner  and  with 
less  white. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Resembling  adult  ?  in  Fall  but  the  crown  and  back  browner, 
the  black  streaks  above  usually  wanting,  the  rump  less  clearly  yellow,  the 
streaks  on  the  sides  finer,  less  prominent. 

Nestling. — Above  brown,  sometimes  ruddy  in  tone,  indistinctly  streaked 
with  black ;  breast  dusky  brown ;  belly  whitish  streaked  with  blackish ;  wing- 
coverts  tipped  with  buffy. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  the  Mackenzie;  west  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  higher  parts  of  Massachusetts  (Berk- 
shire Co.),  northern  New  York  (Oneida  Co.),  northern  Michigan, 
northern  Minnesota  and  southern  Assiniboia  northward.  It  also  breeds 
not  uncommonly  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  Alleghenies  of  eastern 
Pennsylvania  and  on  the  highest  mountains  of  western  Maryland.  It  is 


MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 


123 


a  rare  migrant  west  to  eastern  Nebraska  and  has  occurred  accidentally 
in  Colorado  (Denver,  May  17,  1873,  Fort  Lyon,  May  17,  r884,  Denver, 
May  17,  1888),  California  (Santa  Barbara  Island,  May  15,  1897,  Los 
Angeles,  October  21,  1897,  and  October  5,  1901),  and  several  times  in 
British  Columbia. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  to  Panama;  casual  in  the  West  Indies. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Atlanta,  Ga.    (near)    

3 

April  25 

April  20,  1900 

Washington,   D.  C  

6 

May      4 

April  22,  1891 

Beaver     Pa 

Mav      "i 

May      2,  1899 

Renovo     Pa 

g 

** 

May      7 

May      2,  1903 

Ballston    Spa    N    Y 

_ 

May      9 

May      4,  1891 

Hartford     Conn 

g 

May     10 

May      9,  1892 

Central   Massachusetts 

Q 

May     ii 

May      4,  1890 

Southern    Maine 

6 

May    10 

May      6,  1899 

Quebec    Can 

8 

May      9 

May      4,  1900 

St    John    N    B 

May     16 

May     10,  1895 

Godbout     Que 

2 

May    22 

May    21,  1884 

North  River    P    E    I 

May    26 

May    23,  1887 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
Lower  Rio  Grande,  Tex  

April  20,  1887 

New  Orleans  and  vicinity  

r 

May      3 

April  26,  1903 

St    Louis    Mo 

g 

May      i,  1904 

Morgan  Park    111 

6 

May      6 

May      i,  1895 

Rockford     111 

Mav      7 

May      5,  1888 

Oberlin    Ohio 

Mav      1 

April  30,  1905 

Southern  Wisconsin                

ii 

May    10 

May      7,  1897 

Detroit    Michigan    .         

10 

Mav      <( 

April  30,  1902 

Southern    Ontario    

17 

May     ii 

May      4,  1902 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa     Ont         

13 

21 

May     13 
May    13 

May      6,  1895 
May      8,  1896 

Lanesboro,    Minn     

8 

May      9 

May      6,  1888 

Aweme,   Man     

g 

May    16 

May    ii,  1900 

May     18    1899 

May    23    1901 

Fort  Simpson,  Mack  

May    23,  1860 

Denver,   Colo  

May    10,  1897 

Santa   Barbara    Cal 

May    15    1897 

Fall  Migration. — 


PIvACE 

No  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

August  12,  1887 

Glen  Ellyn    111 

6 

August  12    1896 

Englewood     N     J 

August  23 

August  16   1887 

Washington    D    C 

August  22 

August  16   1886 

Raleigh    N    C 

September  13 

September  ii    1889 

New  Orleans  and  vicinity   

4 

September  19 

September  13,  1899 

I24 


MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  »ecn 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

September  17    1900 

Ottawa     Ont 

September  17 

September  19,  1895 

Detroit     Mich 

October    5    1905 

Glen  Ellyn    111 

October    9    1894 

North  River,  P    E.  I  

September    8,  1890 

St   John   N    B 

September    7    1890 

Beaver    Pa      

October    3    1891 

I 

October    5    1902 

Washington    DC               .     . 

October    2 

October  10   

New  Orleans  and  vicinity  

October  24 

November  i,  1895 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  this  day  of  numerous  bird  man- 
uals, keys,  etc.,  book  knowledge  of  a  bird  usually  precedes  our  actual 
meeting  with  the  species  in  life  and  we  are  more  or  less  prepared  for 
the  encounter;  but  before  the  day  of  these  publications  the  embryo 
ornithologist  was  sometimes  thrilled  by  the  'discovery'  of  birds  which, 
as  far  as  he  was  aware,  no  one  had  ever  seen  before. 

William  Brewster's2  monograph  of  the  Magnolia  Warbler  con- 
tains a  description  of  such  an  experience  which  we  are  sure  will 
appeal  to  every  bird  lover,  whether  or  not  it  has  been  his  good 
fortune  to  begin  his  study  of  birds  in  a  similarly  memorable  manner. 
Mr.  Brewster  writes:  "Entering  a  grove  of  thickly  growing  young 
spruces,  I  sat  down  to  rest  on  a  mossy  log.  I  had  been  there  but  a 
short  time  when  I  became  conscious  of  faint  sounds  in  the  trees  above 
and  around  me, — chirpings,  twitterings,  and  occasionally  a  modest 
little  effort  at  song.  Watching  attentively,  I  soon  spied  a  movement 
among  the  branches,  and  a  tiny  bird  hopped  out  into  the  light,  pre- 
senting a  bright  yellow  breast  and  throat  for  just  a  moment  before 
flying  into  the  next  tree.  Here  was  a  revelation!  I  already  knew 
a  few  of  the  most  familiar  birds, — the  Robin,  the  Bluebird,  the  Sparrow, 
the  Oriole,  and  some  others;  but  it  had  never  occurred  to  me  that 
dark  forests  like  these  might  be  tenanted  by  such  delicate  and  beauti- 
ful forms.  Only  the  tropics  surely  could  boast  such  gems." 

This  was  before  the  day  of  'keys' ;  the  opera-glass  had  not  sup- 
planted the  gun  and  "with  enthusiasm  now  fairly  aroused  and  animated 
with  the  spirit  of  the  explorer"  the  young  ornithologist  "went  at 
once  to  work  to  investigate,  and  in  the  course  of  an  hour  or  two, 
my  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  quite  a  line  of  poor  life- 
less, mutilated  little  birds  lay  along  the  old  log.  *  *  *  Scarcely 
any  two  of  my  specimens  were  alike,  and  as  I  contemplated  in  amaze- 
ment their  varied  forms  and  coloring,  I  felt  like  the  discoverer  of  a 


MAGNOLIA  WARBLER  125 

new  world,  and  doubted  whether  human  eyes  had  ever  beheld  the 
like  before.  *  *  *  I  can  recall  with  sufficient  distinctness  for 
identification  but  a  single  bird  of  them  all, — a  fine  adult  male  Black 
and  Yellow  Warbler  [as  this  species  was  then  called],  which  at  the 
time  I  considered  the  handsomest  and  which  I  still  think  cannot  be 
surpassed  in  beauty  by  any  New  England  representative  of  the 
family." 

Later,  in  the  same  paper  this  author  states  that  as  a  spring  mi- 
grant in  eastern  Massachusettts  the  Magnolia  Warbler  is  abundant, 
frequenting  "willow  thickets  near  streams,  ponds,  and  other  damp 
places.  *  *  *  It  is  also  not  unusual  to  find  many  in  the  upland 
woods,  especially  where  young  pines  or  other  evergreens  grow 
thickly."  In  the  autumn,  he  adds,  it  is  less  common  and  its  haunts 
are  then  "somewhat  different  from  those  which  it  affects  during  its 
northward  journey.  We  now  find  it  most  commonly  on  hillsides, 
among  scrub-oaks  and  scattered  birches  and  in  company  with  such 
birds  as  the  Yellow-rump  (Dendroica  coronata)  and  the  Blackpoll 
(D.  striata)." 

About  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  writes :  "This  most  beautiful 
Warbler  is  a  common  summer  bird  between  2,800  and  1,000  feet, 
wherever  there  are  second  growth  spruce  woods,  and  especially  such 
woods  combined  with  bits  of  upland  pasture.  'Spruce  Warbler'  would 
be  an  appropriate  name  for  it  in  this  region — quite  as  appropriate 
as  'Birch  Warbler'  for  the  Nashville.  These  two  birds  may  often 
be  found  almost  together  on  the  same  pasture-border ;  but  the  Magnolia 
keeps  to  the  spruces  (and  other  conifers)  at  least  as  strictly  as  the 
Nashville  keeps  to  the  birches  (and  other  broad-leaf  trees). 

"The  feeding-range  or  'beat'  of  this  Warbler  in  its  chosen  sum- 
mer woodlands  about  Monadnock,  lies  between  the  tip-tops  of  second 
growth  spruce  trees  and  their  lowest  branches.  Although  not  shy, 
it  is  apt  to  stick  rather  closely  to  the  inner  recesses  of  spruce  clumps, 
less  often  showing  itself  on  the  outermost  twigs  than  do  the  Black- 
burnian  and  Black-throated  Green.  In  its  movements  it  is  fidgety  and 
quick,  and  it  often  partly  spreads  its  broadly  and  centrally  white-banded 
tail,  distinctive  of  the  species  in  all  plumages."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Song. — "The  Magnolia  belongs  among  the  full-voiced  Warblers, 
and  is  a  versatile  singer,  having  at  least  two  main  songs,  both  subject  to 
much  and  notable  variation.  The  typical  form  of  the  commoner 
song  is  peculiar  and  easily  remembered :  Weeto  weeto  weeetee-eet, — or 
Witchi,  witchi,  ivitchi  tit, — the  first  four  notes  deliberate  and  even  and 
comparatively  low  in  tone,  the  last  three  hurried  and  higher  pitched, 


126  MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 

with  decided  emphasis  on  the  antepenult  weet  or  witch.  The  other 
song  has  the  same  general  character,  and  begins  with  nearly  the  same 
notes,  but  instead  of  ending  with  the  sprightly,  high-pitched  wcetee- 
eet",  it  falls  off  in  a  single  perfunctory-sounding  though  emphatic 
note,  of  lower  tone  than  the  rest.  In  syllables  it  is  like  Witti  witti 
wet," — or  weetee  weetee  wiir.  This  duller  song  seems  much  less 
subject  to  variation  than  the  sprightly  one.  Some  of  the  aberrant 
songs,  though,  are  as  near  to  one  type  as  another.  One  such  variant  I 
have  fixed  in  my  own  recollection  by  the  syllables  Ter-tvhiz  wee-it ; 
and  another,  almost  unrecognizable,  by  the  syllables  Wee-yer  wee- 
yer  wee-yer.  Still  another  beginning  like  Weechi  wcech,  ended 
with  a  hurried  confusion  of  small  notes,  some  low,  some  high. 
But  throughout  these  and  all  the  many  other  surprising  variations  I 
have  heard  about  Monadnock,  the  characteristic  tone-quality  was 
preserved  unchanged,  and  so  were  certain  minor  tricks,  scarcely 
describable,  of  emphasis  and  phrasing.  The  tone  is  much  like  the 
Yellow  Warbler's  and  also  the  Chestnut-side's,  though  distinctly  differ- 
ent from  either.  In  loudness  it  averages  lower  than  the  Yellow's,  and 
about  equal  to  the  Chestnut-side's.  In  addition  to  several  barely 
characteristic  'chips'  the  Magnolia  has  a  most  peculiar  call-note. 
It  is  soft,  almost  song-toned,  with  a  slight  metallic  ring,  and 
at  the  same  time  sounds  lisped; — tlep,  tlep,  reminding  one  of  certain 
notes  both  of  the  American  Siskin  and  (as  Dr.  G.  M.  Allen  says)  of 
Henslow's  Sparrow."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Miss  Paddock  gives  four  variations  of  the  Magnolia's  song,  and 
writes : 

"The  song  usually  ends  with  the  falling  inflection.  It  may  always 
do  so  when  the  two  records  ending  on  the  high  note  were  where  I  failed 
to  catch  the  very  last  note." 


!  •  J 


"This  last  preceded  by  three  or  four  'chips'  like  the  chatter  of  the 
Chickadee." 


PLATE  XI 


1.  MAGNOLIA  WARBLER,  MALE.  3.  MAGNOLIA  WARBLER,  YOUNG  AND  ADULT  IN  FALL, 

2.  MAGNOLIA   WARBLER,  FEMALE.  4.   KIRTLAND'S  WARBLEK,  MALE. 

5.  KIRTLAND'S  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 


127 


1  nnn        ,uj{j;jctr 


Nesting  Site. — "The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  a  small  fir  or  spruce 
and  rarely  at  a  greater  elevation  than  five  or  six  feet.  The  average 
height  would  probably  not  exceed  four  feet,  and  I  have  found  some 
barely  twelve  inches  above  the  ground.  It  is  usually  laid  somewhat 
loosely  among  the  horizontal  twigs  from  which  it  can  in  most  cases 
be  lifted  intact  *  *  *  Exceptional  situations  are  the  interior  of 
the  woods,  where,  in  some  cases,  the  nest  is  placed  in  the  top  of  a 
young  hemlock  ten  or  fifteen  feet  up.  In  one  instance  I  found  a  nest 
on  a  horizontal  spruce  limb  in  the  very  heart  of  the  forest,  and  at  least 
thirty-five  feet  above  the  ground."  (Brewster2.) 

A  large  amount  of  data  from  northern  New  England  confirms 
Brewster's  observations  in  regard  to  the  normal  nesting  site  of  this 
species  in  that  region,  but  Simpson6  states  that  in  the  mountains  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  Warren,  the  great  majority  of  nests  are  built  about 
ten  to  twelve  feet  up  in  the  tops  of  small  hemlocks  or  out  on  the 
branches  of  larger  trees. 

At  Branchport,  New  York,  Burtch  (MS.)  finds  the  nest  "in 
hemlocks  usually  on  a  horizontal  limb  from  eight  to  twenty  feet  up  and 
over  an  opening  in  the  woods.  Several  nests  were  found  in  the  top  of 
little  hemlock  saplings  from  one  to  five  feet  from  the  ground.  One 
nest  was  found  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Stone  in  a  birch  sapling,  this  being  the 
only  instance  to  my  knowledge  of  its  nesting  in  a  tree  other  than  a  hem- 
lock." 

Nest. — Nests  in  Mr.  Brewster's  collection  from  northern  New 
England  are  made  of  small  coniferous  twigs,  which  project  over  the 
edges  in  irregular  fashion,  pine  needles,  grasses,  bits  of  down  or 
spider's  webbing,  lined  with  fine,  dull  black,  hair-like  rootlets,  often 
so  abundantly  as  to  make  the  nest  interiorly  black  in  marked  contrast 
to  the  brown  exterior. 

Burtch  (MS.)  describes  the  nest  as  "loosely  constructed  of  fine 
hemlock  twigs,  with  sometimes  a  few  weeds,  lined  with  fine  black  root- 
lets, hair,  or  fine  dead  grass,  usually  decorated  with  fern  down." 

Eggs- — 3  to  6,  usually  4.  Ground  color  of  average  specimen  is 
dull  creamy  white,  over  this  are  spots  and  blotches  of  many  shades  of 
reddish  brown,  hazel,  and  chestnut,  in  some  specimens  purplish  and 
pale  lavender,  but  in  nearly  all  cases  the  egg  is  heavily  marked  on 
the  large  end  in  form  of  a  well  defined  wreath.  Size ;  average,  .65X.48 ; 
extremes  measure  .61x45,  -72X45>  .66x.si.  (Figs.  52-54.) 


128  CAPE  MAY  WARBLER 

Nesting  Dates.— Warren,  Pa.,  first  week  in  June  (Simpson) ; 
Branchport,  N.  Y.,  June  2-June  24  (Burtch) ;  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  May 
24-June  20  (Spaulding) ;  Bangor,  Me.,  May  3O-June  16  (Knight)  ; 
Grand  Menan,  N.  B.,  June  8  (/.  P.  N.)-]u\y  i  (C.  W.  C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  C.  J.  MAYNARD,  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Coos  Co.,  N.  H.,  and 
Oxford  Co.,  Maine,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIV,  1871,  367.  (2)  WM. 
BREWSTER,  The  Black-and- Yellow  Warbler  (in  New  England),  Bull.  Nutt. 
Orn.  Club,  II,  1877,  I.  (3)  J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  Dendroica 
maculosa,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  177.  (4)  C.  H.  ANDROS,  The  Black  and 
Yellow  Warbler  at  Grand  Menan,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  182.  (5)  S.  E. 
WHITE,  Birds  Observed  on  Mackinac  Island,  Michigan,  Auk,  X,  1893,  228. 
(6)  R.  B.  SIMPSON,  The  Magnolia  Warbler  (at  Warren,  Pa.),  Nidologist,  II, 
1895,  164.  (7)  L.  M.  TERRILL,  Summer  Warblers  in  Compton  County,  Quebec, 
Ottawa  Naturalist,  XVIII,  1904,  150.  (8)  B.  HOAG,  Nesting  of  the  Magnolia 
Warbler  (in  N.  Y.),  Nidologist,  I,  1894,  87.  (See  also  HIGGINS,  Ibid.,  106.) 

CAPE  MAY  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  TIGRINA  (Gmel.)     Plate  XVI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Adult  c?  with  chestnut  ear-patches;  adult  ? 
and  young  grayish  olive  above,  the  rump  much  brighter,  below  whitish,  streaked, 
the  breast  more  or  less  yellow.  Length  (skin),  4.50;  wing,  2.55;  tail,  1.90; 
bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  black  more  or  less  edged  with  olive  and  often 
with  traces  of  chestnut  on  the  forehead ;  ear-coverts  chestnut,  this  color  some- 
times tinging  the  well-marked  yellow  superciliary  line;  sides  of  the  neck 
yellow  with  a  tendency  to  spread  to  the  nape;  back  olive-green  spotted  with 
black,  rump  clear  yellow  or  greenish  yellow;  tail  black  edged  with  olive  the 
inner  webs  of  two  to  three  outer  feathers  with  white  patches  near  the  tip; 
wings  black  edged  with  olive-green,  median  coverts  white  except  at  base,  outer 
margins  of  greater  coverts  usually  white  or  greenish  gray;  below  yellow, 
heavily  streaked  with  black,  fading  to  white  on  the  lower  belly,  the  throat 
generally  tinged  with  chestnut. 

Adult  <f,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  widely  margined  with 
grayish  above,  and  with  whitish  below. 

Young  $,  Fall. — No  chestnut  ear-patches  or  black  crown;  crown  and  back 
grayish  olive-green  with  some  more  or  less  concealed  black  spots,  rump  dueky 
yellow;  tail  as  in  adult;  median  wing-coverts  grayish  white,  outer  margins  of 
greater  coverts  greenish  gray;  yellow  below  less  bright  than  in  adult,  streaks 
less  pronounced,  all  the  feathers  margined  with  whitish. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Above  grayish  olive,  grayer  than  in  young  <£,  forehead 
usually  with  black  spots,  line  over  eye  yellowish;  rump  olive-green;  tail  with 
less  white  than  in  c?;  median  and  greater  wing-coverts  margined  with  grayish 
white,  not  forming  conspicuous  bars;  below  whitish,  breast  tinged  with  yellow 
and,  with  the  sides,  conspicuously  streaked  with  black. 


CAPE  MAY  WARBLER 


129 


Aduk   $,   Fall. — Similar   to   adult   $    in    Spring   but   yellow    of   rump    and 
breast  stronger,  the  black  streaks  obscured  by  whitish  edgings. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Fall  but  with  less  yellow;  streaks 
below  less  sharply  denned. 

Nestling. — Dusky  olive-brown  above,  dusky  grayish  below,  faintly  tinged 
with  buffy  on  breast  and  sides. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Nova 
Scotia  and  Hudson  Bay ;  west  to  the  Mississippi. 

Summer  Range. — The  greater  number  summer  in  Canada  north 
to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Hudson  Bay  and  almost  to  Great 
Slave  Lake ;  a  smaller  number  nest  in  the  northern  United  States,  in 
Maine  (Oxford  and  Washington  Counties),  New  Hampshire  (Umba- 
gog),  northern  Michigan,  northern  Minnesota,  Manitoba,  and  Assini- 
boia  (Yorktown).  A  few  are  said  to  breed  in  the  Island  of  Jamaica. 
The  western  limit  of  the  usual  range  of  the  species  can  be  marked 
approximately  by  a  line  drawn  from  Florida  to  southern  Missouri  and 
up  the  Mississippi  River  to  Minnesota.  West  of  this  district  it  has 
been  taken  casually  in  Louisiana  (New  Orleans,  April  1890),  Missis- 
sippi (Tishomingo  County,  May  4,  1904),  Nebraska  (Alda,  May  12, 
1883,  Omaha,  May  24,  1893),  Iowa,  (Iowa  City,  November  27). 

Spring  Migration. — 


PI.ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  dete  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Southern  Florida   

3 

April    8 

March  3,  1887 

Northern    Florida    

3 

April  14 

April    3,  1901 

Atlanta,  Ga.   (near)    

6 

April  25 

April  18,  1902 

Washington,  D.   C  

3 

May      8 

May      2,  1888 

Southeastern   New   York    

4 

May    12 

May    ii,  1893 

Eastern    Massachusetts    
Montreal,   Can  

5 

May    12 

May    10,  1897 
May     14,  1890 

Quebec,  Can  

May     16,  1902 

Scotch  Lake,  N.  B  

4 

May    18 

May    1  6,  1903 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
Brookville,    Ind 

Mav      S 

Mav      4    1800 

Chicago,    111     ... 

8 

May      6 

April  30    1899 

Oberlin,   Ohio    

8 

May    ii 

May      5    1895 

Southern    Wisconsin    
Southern    Michigan    

6 
6 

May     ii 
May    15 

May      6,  1888 
May    n,  1890 

Ottawa,  Ont 

TC 

May    1  6 

May     ii    1900 

Lanesboro     Minn 

May    1  6 

May      8   1887 

Elk  River,  Minn 

May    20 

May      17    1889 

Aweme,    Manitoba 

May     14    1900 

130 


CAPE  MAY  WARBLER 


I:all  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No  of 
years' 
re  ord 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Burliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Aweme,    Manitoba    
Chicago     111 

August  23,  1901 
August  20,  1896 

Guelph    Ont               

August  23,  1904 

Washington    D    C 

August  25,  1890 

Mt    Pleasant    S    C      .           

September    8,  1898 

Southern    Florida    

September  17,  1887 

PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Grinnell,    Iowa    

September  17    1886 

Chicago     111 

Beaver,   Pa    .    .  . 

Washington,  D.  C  

October  14    1888 

French   Creek,  W.  Va  

October  21    1891 

Southern  Florida 

November  7    1891 

Winter  Range. — West  Indies ;  accidental  in  Yucatan  and  Central 
America. 

The  Bird  and  Its  Haunts. — The  beauty  and  rarity  of  the  Cape 
May  Warbler  make  it  one  of  the  most  eagerly  sought  for  members 
of  its  family.  To  have  seen  a  'Cape  May'  stamps  the  day's  outing 
with  a  memorable  distinction.  I  still  recall  the  particular  tree  and 
hour  in  which,  over  twenty  years  ago,  I  discovered  with  uncontrolled 
exultation  my  first  Cape  May — a  fully  adult  male.  One  sees  the  dull 
plumaged  fall  birds  with  no  little  satisfaction  but  they  never  receive 
the  enthusiastic  welcome  of  the  exquisitely  colored  spring  male. 

In  early  May  in  Florida,  I  have  seen  this  species  actually  com- 
mon, feeding  in  weedy  patches  among  a  rank  growth  of  poke- 
berries.  It  seemed  like  wanton  extravagance  on  the  part  of  nature 
to  bring  so  many  of  these  generally  rare  creatures  within  one's 
experience  in  a  single  morning.  Both  on  the  east  and  west  coasts  of 
the  State  the  bird  is  at  times  a  common  migrant,  possibly  bound  for 
its  summer  home  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  where  it  is  more 
numerous  than  in  the  north  Atlantic  States. 

Butler2  writes  that  some  years  in  Indiana,  "they  are  found  upon 
the  drier  uplands,  among  the  oak  woods,  where  they  generally  keep 
among  the  lower  branches  or  upon  the  high  bushes  and  smaller  trees. 
They  are  not  very  active,  but  keep  persistently  hunting  insects.  At 


CAPE  MAY  WARBLER  131 

other  times,  we  find  them  among  our  orchards,  even  coming  into  towns 
where  they  occupy  themselves  catching  insects  among  the  foliage  and 
about  the  blossoms  of  all  kinds  of  fruit  and  shade  trees." 

Brewster4  states  that  about  Cambridge  the  Cape  May  is  "one  of 
the  very  rarest  of  Warblers  which  visit  us  with  any  degree  of  regular- 
ity, especially  if  we  also  consider  (i)  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  strik- 
ingly colored  and  easily  identified  of  them  all;  (2)  that  it  is  a  rather 
loud  and  very  persistent  singer;  and  (3)  that,  when  with  us,  it  is  given 
to  frequenting  isolated  trees  near  houses." 

The  last-named  habit  is  confirmed  by  Gerald  Thayer's  observa- 
tions at  Scarborough,  in  the  lower  Hudson  Valley,  where  he  writes 
that  migrant  Cape  Mays  "haunted  a  few  big  Norway  spruces  on  our 
home  lawn  for  two  or  three  days,  acting  about  like  Blackburnians, 
but  sticking  strangely  close  to  one  or  two  special  trees." 

We  know  comparatively  little  about  the  Cape  May  on  its  nesting 
grounds.  Maynard3  writes  that  in  northwestern  Maine  "they  lived 
in  the  tops  of  the  high  coniferous  trees."  It  was  in  this  region,  in 
1871,  that  H.  B.  Bailey  first  found  a  nest,  which  was,  however,  des- 
troyed before  the  set  was  completed,  and  J.  W.  Banks,  as  recorded  by 
Chamberlain1,  appears  to  have  first  secured  the  Cape  May's  nest  and 
eggs. 

Mr.  Chamberlain1  writes,  "The  birds  seen  at  Edmundton  [New 
Brunswick]  were  invariably  on  the  topmost  branches  of  the  tallest 
evergreens  (usually  spruces)  growing  in  the  neighborhood.  *  *  * 
As  the  birds  were  constantly  singing,  their  general  whereabouts  was 
easily  discovered,  but  no  small  amount  of  patient  searching  was 
required  to  catch  sight  of  them."  Subsequently,  however,  as  quoted 
beyond,  the  bird  was  found  to  nest  in  a  low  cedar. 

The  reported  breeding  of  this  species  in  Jamaica  and  San 
Domingo  remains  unconfirmed. 

Song. — "Two,  at  least,  of  the  Cape  May's  songs,  as  I  heard  them 
freely  uttered  by  three  or  four  migrant  males  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Hudson  River  in  the  spring  of  1900,  are  of  a  thin  and  penetrating  tone, 
much  like  the  Black  and  White  Warbler's.  Nor  does  the  resemblance 
stop  there:  the  whole  utterance,  in  tone,  phrasing,  and  accentuation, 
strongly  suggests  the  Black  and  White's  shorter  song;  and  in  their 
most  kindred  variations  the  two  might  be  hard  to  distinguish.  Hence 
the  rule,  if  you  hear  a  queer-sounding  Black  and  White,  in  spring, 
or  in  the  North  Woods,  by  all  means  look  him  up.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Cape  May's  singing  is  near  akin  to  the  Blackpoll's, — very 
near  to  some  forms  of  it.  But  the  notes  are  shorter,  a  little  louder,  less 


132  CAPE  MAY  WARBLER 

'thin',  and  more  run-together.  They  have  also  a  slightly  'impure',  or 
double  tone, — a  quality  from  which  the  fine-spun  notes  of  the  Black- 
poll  are  peculiarly  free.  Again,  the  'swell  and  fall',  so  characteristic 
of  the  Blackpoll's  common  song,  is  lacking  in  the  Cape  May's,  which 
is  merely  accelerated  a  little  toward  the  end.  All  this  applies  to  one 
of  the  Cape  May's  two  (or  more?)  main  songs.  The  other,  more  like 
the  Black  and  White's,  has  each  of  the  six  or  eight  main  syllables 
longer-drawn-out,  and  split  into  barely-severed  halves"  (Thayer,  MS.}. 
"I  have  only  heard  them  sing  one  or  two  springs ;  a 
thin,  rather  sweet  squeak  repeated  several  times.  In  May,  1897,  it 
impressed  me  as  one  of  the  thinnest  and  least  musical  of  the  Warbler 
songs."  (Farwell,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — Too  little  is  known  about  the  nesting  habits  of 
this  species  to  warrant  general  statements.  A  nest  found  by  Banks1 
at  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  was  placed  near  the  tip  of  a  branch  of  a  low 
cedar  less  than  three  feet  from  the  ground  and  was  "well-screened 
from  observation." 

Nest. — The  walls  of  the  nest  above  mentioned  are  "composed  of 
minute  twigs  of  dried  spruce,  grasses,  and  strawberry  vines,  with 
spider's  webbing  interwoven  with  coarse  fabrics  and  knotted  with 
numerous  little  balls,  which  are  bound  upon  the  surface.  *  *  *The 
exterior  is  rather  roughly  made,  but  is  more  compact,  and  bears 
evidence  of  more  art  than  is  shown  in  the  nest  of  the  Magnolia 
Warbler  which  it  somewhat  resembles.  The  interior,  however,  is 
much  more  neatly  and  artistically  formed  in  the  Cape  May's  than  in 
its  congener's.  The  lining  is  composed  entirely  of  horse-hair,  and 
this  is  laid  with  precision,  and  shaped  into  a  prettily  formed  cup, 
the  brim  being  turned  with  exquisite  grace.  The  dimensions  of  the 
nest  are,  outside,  21-4  inches  high  and  2  3-4  to  3  inches  across  the 
mouth;  inside,  11-4  inches  deep  and  I  3-4  inches  wide."  (Chamber- 
tero1.) 

Eggs. — 4.  "The  eggs  are  of  much  the  same  dull  white  ground- 
color, of  a  slightly  ashen  hue,  as  that  of  the  Magnolia.  The  form 
of  the  egg  is  different,  however,  the  Cape  May's  being  less  pyriform 
— the  point  less  acute.  The  markings  are  of  light  and  dark  lilac, 
and  yellowish  and  reddish  tints  of  brown;  the  brown  being  on  the 
surface  and  the  lilac  underneath  the  coatings  of  the  shell  producing 
the  various  shades.  As  a  rule  the  spots  are  circular  and  very  small — 
many  being  quite  minute — and  are  irregularly  distributed,  no  two 
eggs  bearing  the  same  pattern,  though  in  all  four  there  is  decided 
tendency  to  concentration  in  a  ring  near  the  large  end ;  but  on  some 


BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER  133 

there  are  spots  over  the  larger  part  of  the  entire  shell  while  the 

small  end  of  others  is  immaculate.     The  measurements  are  .69x49, 

.65x49,  .66x49,  .66x48."    (Chamberlain.}    (Figs.  35,36.   Childs  Coll.) 

Nesting  Dates. — St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  June  16  (Chamberlain}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  M.  CHAMBERLAIN,  Nesting  Habits  of  the  Cape  May  Warbler  [in  New 
Brunswick],  Auk,  II,  1885,  33.  (2)  A.  W.  BUTLER,  Birds  of  Indiana,  1043. 
(3)  C.  J.  MAYNARD,  Warblers  of  New  England,  15.  (4)  WM.  BREWSTER, 
Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  331. 

BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  OERULESCENS  CvERULESCENS  (Gmel.)    Plate  IX 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  <$,  whether  adult  or  young  may  always 
be  known  by  its  black  throat  and  blue  back.  In  the  adult  ?  the  white  spot  on 
the  primaries  above  the  primary  coverts,  is  diagnostic.  In  the  young  $  this 
spot  is  much  reduced  and  at  times  not  evident  and  such  specimens  possess  no 
obvious  distinguishing  mark.  The  bird  in  the  hand,  however,  may  be  identified 
by  the  bluish  tone  of  the  tail  feathers  in  connection  with  other  features 
described  beyond.  Length  (skin),  4.50;  wing,  2.50;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .35. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Upperparts  dark  grayish  blue,  the  back  and  inner  tail- 
coverts  at  times  with  more  or  less  black;  tail  black  edged  with  blue,  the  three 
outer  feathers  with  large  white  patches  near  the  tip  of  the  inner  web,  the 
next  two  usually  with  more  or  less  white  on  the  margin  of  the  inner  web; 
wings  black  edged  with  blue;  all  but  the  outer  primary  with  more  or  less 
white  basally,  this  on  the  second  to  seventh  or  eighth  primaries  appears  as  a 
conspicuous  white  spot  at  the  end  of  the  primary  coverts;  cheeks,  throat,  and 
sides  black,  rest  of  underparts  white. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Only  slightly  different  from  above;  the  back  very  nar- 
rowly tipped  with  greenish,  the  throat  and  sides  with  white;  black  of  throat 
apparently  somewhat  less  in  extent. 

Young  $,  Spring. — Young  of  the  previous  year  may  be  distinguished  from 
fully  mature  males  by  remains  of  the  greenish  edgings  generally  to  be  found 
on  the  upperparts,  and  particularly  by  the  browner  green-edged  wing  feathers, 
which  are  evidently  worn  for  one  year. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Above  dusky  olive-green  with  a  more  or  less  evident 
bluish  tinge  strongest  on  crown  and  upper  tail-coverts;  a  narrow  whitish  line 
from  bill  over  eye,  lower  and  upper  part  of  eye-ring  whitish;  tail  fuscous 
margined  with  grayish  blue,  the  outer  feathers  usually  with  white  patches; 
wings  fuscous  margined  with  greenish ;  a  white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  primaries 
at  the  end  of  the  primary  coverts  generally  evident  but  sometimes  (in  immature 
specimens?)  barely  visible;  underparts  pale  buffy  yellowish  or  whitish,  the 
sides  darker,  the  throat  and  sides  of  the  breast  rarely  dusky. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Indistinguishable  in  color  from  adult  $  in  Spring. 

Young  $?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall  but  greener  above,  where 
without  trace  of  blue,  dingy  yellowish  below,  line  over  eye  yellowish,  white 
wing-spot  never  large  and  conspicuous  and  sometimes  concealed  by  the  primary 
coverts;  white  in  tail  much  reduced. 


134 


BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER 


Nestling  <?.— Above  brownish  olive-green,  lores  black,  auriculars  blackish, 
a  whitish  superciliary  line;  throat  and  breast  somewhat  paler  than  back  or 
dusky  yellowish,  belly  whitish  or  yellowish  white;  tail  as  in  young  <$,  black 
edged  with  blue  and  marked  with  white;  wings  as  in  young  d,  black  the 
feathers  edged  with  blue  or  greenish  with  a  white  patch  at  the  base  of  the 
primaries;  wing-coverts  like  back,  edged  with  brownish. 

Nestling  9. — Paler  than  nestling  c?,  no  black  in  lores  or  auriculars;  below  as 
in  nestling  <J,  wings  and  tail  as  in  young  Fall  ?,  greater  and  median  wing- 
coverts  like  back,  edged  with  brownish. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America ;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  Hudson  Bay ;  west  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

Summer  Range. — Common  as  a  breeder  in  the  southern  portion 
of  Quebec  and  south  in  the  mountains  to  Maryland ;  less  common 
north  to  Newfoundland,  northeastern  Quebec,  and  northern  Ontario. 
Outside  of  the  mountains  it  breeds  south  through  northern  New 
England  to  Massachusetts  (Berkshire)  and  Connecticut  (Eastford), 
to  New  York  (Oneida  and  Hamilton  Counties),  southern  Michigan 
(Detroit),  northwestern  Michigan  (Porcupine  Mountains),  and 
northern  Minnesota. 

South  of  the  breeding  range  it  occurs  rarely  west  of  the 
Mississippi  in  Iowa  and  Missouri;  accidentally  in  Nebraska  (Lincoln, 
Omaha,  West  Point),  Kansas  (Finney  Co.,  October  17,  1891),  Colo- 
rado (Denver,  May  24,  1888,  Yuma,  September  19,  1904),  New 
Mexico  (Gallinas  Mountains,  October  8,  1904,)  and  California  (Faral- 
lones,  November  17,  1886). 

Winter  Range.— The  West  Indies  north  to  Florida  (Key  West). 
Accidental  in  Guatemala  and  Colombia. 

Spring  Migration. — 


P^ACR 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  aa  rival 

Atlantic  Coast- 
Southern  Florida 

March  9,  1886 

Mt.  Pleasant,  S   C    .  .     . 

April  16,  1800 

Asheville,  N.  C.   (near)    

April  19.  1893 

Raleigh,  N    C 

April    6,  1888 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  
Washington    D    C 

4 

April  29 

A/fav        •? 

April  18,  1889 
April  27,  1888 

Germantown,    Pa              .  .         ... 

7 

Mav       ft 

May      i,  1888 

Renovo,    Pa  

7 

Mav        7 

April  27,  1902 

New  Providence,  N.  J  
Holland   Patent,  N.  Y    

I 

May      6 

Mav       7 

May      i,  1894 
April  28,  1891 

Hartford,    Conn  

7 

April  29    1894 

Central    Massachusetts    
St.   Tohnsburv.  Vt.    . 

5 
ir 

* 

May      8 

Moir           n 

May      5,  1895 

Mav        e     i8n7 

BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER 


135 


PI,  ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record. 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Lewiston     Me                          

May      7,  1900 

Quebec    Can                     

5 

May     13 

May      7,  1900 

Central    New    Brunswick      

5 

May      9,  1904 

Mississippi  V  alley  — 
Brookville    Ind 

Waterloo    Ind                              .... 

Mav        c 

Oberlin    Ohio                

9 

iviay       5 

Detroit     Mich         

7 

Southern    Ontario        

Mav       8 

A/Tav      •?    T&#7 

Parry  Sound  District    Ont 

!5 

Ottawa    Ont 

Lake   Forest    111 

IV/Tav        f\ 

IVTav        *7 

Milwaukee    Wis              

iviay      7 

9 

May      9 

Fall  Migration — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years1 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Lanesboro     Minn     

September  26 

September  24,  1890 

Chicago,    111     .-  

7 

September     I 

August  25,  1898 

Detroit    Mich 

IO 

September  10 

September    2    1905 

Oberlin    Ohio 

September    7 

September     I    1005 

Beaver    Pa 

September    9 

August  28    1889 

Germantown    Pa    (near) 

6 

September  13 

September    8    1898 

Washington    DC                       

August  21    1887 

Southern  Florida                         

September    3    1885 

PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Ottawa    Ont 

October    7   1900 

Chicago     111 

7 

October    i 

October  10    1897 

Detroit     Mich 

IO 

October    3 

October  15    1905 

Petitcodiac    N    B 

September    5    1886 

Montreal    Can 

September  24    1887 

Renovo     Pa 

7 

October    6 

October  11    1897 

Philadelphia,   Pa     

7 

October  10 

October  21    1888 

French   Creek,  W.  Va  

October    9 

October  15    1890 

Raleigh    N    C 

g 

October  17 

Mt    Pleasant    S    C 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  sharply  contrasted  black  and 
white  areas  and  dark  blue  back,  which  characterize  the  male  Black- 
throated  Blue,  are  so  unlike  the  colors  of  any  other  Warbler  that 
the  bird  may  be  known  at  a  glance.  Fortunately  the  adult  wears  his 
plumage  throughout  the  year  and,  contrary  to  the  usual  rule,  the 
young  male  closely  resembles  him.  The  female,  however,  is  as 


136  BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER 

obscure  as  the  male  is  conspicuous  and  were  it  not  for  the  white  spot 
at  the  base  of  the  primaries,  would  have  no  prominent  distinguish- 
ing mark.  But  in  the  young  female  even  this  is  sometimes  so  small 
as  to  be  concealed  by  the  primary  coverts  and,  in  this  plumage,  the 
Black-throated  Blue  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  Warblers  to  identify. 
Where  the  range  of  this  species  penetrates  the  Canadian  life-zone 
with  its  coniferous  forests-  it  nests  in  growth  of  this  character  but 
south  of  these  limits  its  summer  home  is  in  deciduous  woods. 

Gerald  Thayer  writes  that  about  Monadnock  the  Black-throated 
Blue  is  "a  bird  of  the  ampler  deciduous  undergrowth  in  deep,  moist 
woods — mixed  virgin  timber  or  very  old  second  growth.  It  is  pecu- 
liarly partial  to  these  woodland  conditions,  and  is  common  wherever 
they  occur,  especially  between  the  altitudes  of  1,000  and  2,500  feet. 
Creeping  yew  is  almost  always  common  in  woods  where  these  War- 
blers breed,  and  they  sometimes,  perhaps  often,  nest  in  a  clump  of  it. 
"In  its  movements  the  Black-throated  Blue  is  more  deliberate  than 
many  of  its  relatives,  but  it  has  at  the  same  time  a  somewhat  Red- 
start-like way  of  'spiriting'  itself  from  one  perch  to  another,  and, 
while  perched,  of  partly  opening  its  white-mooned  wings ; — a  habit 
and  a  marking  shared  by  the  boldly  blue-and-black-and-white-  males 
and  the  dimly  green  and  yellowish  females  and  young.  It  is  among 
the  tamest  of  our  Warblers."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Egbert  Bagg,  of  Utica,  writes :  "This  bird  is  a  common  summer 
resident  in  the  southwestern  part  of  our  New  York  wilderness  and  it 
is  there,  both  in  the  wilderness  and  along  its  outskirts,  that  I  have 
come  to  know  it  as  one  of  my  bird  friends.  In  these  fastnesses  of  the 
woods  birds  appear  to  be  scarce.  The  wilderness  is  so  great  and  so 
impassable  that  the  number  of  birds  seen  is  small,  when  they  are 
attending  to  their  duties  in  breeding  season.  Quite  the  contrary  is 
the  fact  when  they  are  migrating,  and  I  have  seen  birds  in  as  great 
numbers,  during  May,  in  the  wilderness,  as  I  ever  saw  them  anywhere ; 
hundreds,  I  presume  thousands,  passing  our  camp  for  several  days  at 
a  time.  But  a  month  later  in  the  same  locality  hardly  a  bird  will  be 
seen.  But  even  at  this  time  a  careful  observer  will  find  the  species  of 
which  I  am  writing  not  uncommon  in  these  woods.  The  males  will 
be  seen  rather  high  up  in  the  trees,  but  the  females  are  but  little  in 
evidence. 

"It  was  a  long  time  after  I  discovered  that  these  birds  were  com- 
mon summer  residents  before  I  found  my  first  nest,  and  when  I  did 
find  it,  its  location  was  so  uncommon,  (as  later  discoveries  showed) 
that  it  actually  hindered  rather  than  helped  the  discovery  of  others. 


BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER 


137 


It  was  on  a  high  bluff  covered  with  spruce  timber  and  with  but  little 
underbrush  and  was  placed  in  the  top  of  an  overturned  and  dead 
spruce  about  eighteen  inches  from  the  ground.  On  June  13,  it  con- 
tained three  eggs  which  hatched  on  the  next  day.  I  never  found 
another  nest  in  the  spruce  timber  and  I  never  found  another  in  open 
woods,  that  is,  free  from  underbrush,  nor  in  any  location  corres- 
ponding to  this  dead  tree-top.  After  several  years  searching  with 
some  success,  I  think  it  is  safe  to  say  that  this  species  builds  in  hard- 
wood forests,  where  the  large  timber  stands  somewhat  openly,  but 
where  all  space  is  grown  up  with  dense  undergrowth  of  hardwood 
saplings  and  brush  with  large  leaves.  I  also  think  that  the  breeding 
spots  are  very  local,  and  that  one  may  pass  through  many  miles 
of  forest  and  not  find  a  pair  of  these  birds ;  but  when  just  the  right 
kind  of  hardwood  knoll  is  found,  several  pairs  may  be  looked  for 
within  a  short  distance.  My  facts  are  rather  meagre  for  this  deduc- 
tion, but  this  is  my  belief."  (Bagg,  MS.} 

At  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Burtch  says  that  this  species  is  "a  rare 
but  regular  summer  resident.  It  may  be  found  in  the  mixed  growths 
of  oaks,  maple,  beech,  chestnut  and  hemlock  where  the  undergrowth 
is  quite  thick."  (Burtch,  MS.} 

The  first  known  nest  of  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  was 
discovered  by  John  Burroughs5  early  in  July,  1871,  at  Roxbury,  Dela- 
ware County,  N.  Y.  It  contained  four  fledged  young  and  one  egg. 
The  latter,  with  the  nest,  is  described  by  Brewer  (B.  B.  and  R., 
History  of  N.  A.  Birds,  I,  257)  while  in  'Locusts  and  Wild  Honey' 
Burroughs  gives  a  description  of  the  hunt  for  the  nest  which  could 
have  been  written  only  by  a  born  birds'  nester. 

Song. — "There  is  not  a  more  regularly  and  amply  versatile 
singer  among  our  eastern  Warblers  than  the  Black-throated  Blue.  It 
has  at  least  four  main  songs,  on  which  it  is  forever  playing  notable 
variations.  Of  these  four,  two  end  on  a  sharply-ascending  scale,  and 
two  are  almost  monotones.  Zwee  zwee  zwee,  is  a  book  rendering,  and 
a  fairly  good  one,  of  the  commoner  monotone  song.  The  other,  of 
two  notes  only,  has  almost  the  form  and  emphasis  of  the  Blue-winged 
Warbler's  explosive  little  shorter  song,  Swee-chirrrr!,  but  is  louder 
and  somewhat  more  languid,  with  the  characteristic  and  unmistak- 
able full-voiced  huskiness  of  the  Black-throated  Blue.  It  might  be 
syllabled  W.her  weeeee.  The  second  half,  in  addition  to  being  more 
emphatic,  is  a  little  bit  lower  in  key.  Of  the  other  two  songs,  the 
commoner  one  is  like  the  syllables  Wheer,  ivheer,  zvheece, — rather 
deliberately  uttered, — the  first  two  notes  almost  alike,  the  final  drawled 


138  BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER 

note  decidedly  higher  pitched  and  also  louder.  This  is  the  commonest 
of  the  four  songs  in  the  breeding  season  near  Monadnock.  The  fourth 
song  begins  with  a  long  string  of  short,  hurried  notes,  like  Hi-hi-hi-hi- 
hi-hi-hi  culminating  at  last  in  the  high-pitched,  long-drawn  wheeee. 
All  four  songs, — and,  as  far  as  my  experience  goes,  the  many  varia- 
tions from  them  and  between  them,  have,  either  throughout  or  in 
part,  the  tell-tale  tone-quality  of  huskiness  or  beadiness  in  a  full- 
strength  Warbler-voice; — an  almost  peculiar  characteristic  of  the 
Black-throated  Blue's.  In  addition  to  some  rather  non-committal  small 
call-notes,  it  has  some  that  are  peculiarly  its  own.  The  queerest  of 
these  I  have  heard  from  the  male  only.  It  is  a  weak,  insect-like, 
grating,  but  low-toned  Bzzz  bzsz  bzzz  bzss  bzzz  several  times  repeated 
in  pretty  quick  succession; — an  utterance  which,  if  it  came  from  any 
other  Warbler,  might  be  taken  for  a  song,  but  so  totally  unlike  all  the 
Black-throated  Blue's  unmistakably  sung  performances,  that  it  cannot 
be  more  than  a  call-note  or  complaint."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Miss  Paddock  sends  three  notations  and  writes:  "This  song  is 
hard  to  express  in  musical  notation.  It  is  an  insect-like  buzzing  note 
repeated  three  or  four  times  with  a  rising  inflection.  It  sounds  a  little 
like  the  breath  sucked  through  the  teeth ;  or  like  one  note  of  the  Black- 
throated  Green's  song." 


Nesting  Site. — Nests  found  by  Jones1  at  Eastford,  Connecticut, 
were  in  laurel  not  over  eighteen  inches  up,  while,  in  northern  New 
York,  Bagg8  found  the  species  nesting  in  little  maples  at  about  one 
foot  from  the  ground.  Nests  found  by  Burtch  (MS.)  at  Branch- 
port,  New  York,  were  built  in  birch  saplings  eighteen  and  twenty 
inches  from  the  ground,  and  in  a  blackberry  bush  fourteen  inches 
from  the  ground.  Near  Utica,  New  York,  Egbert  Bagg  writes 
that:  "the  nest  is  placed  in  an  upright  fork  of  some  shrub,  quite  near 
the  ground,  from  a  foot  to  three  feet  from  it.  The  female  sits  close 
and  allows  an  observer  every  opportunity  to  identify  her.  The 
male  generally  appears,  especially  if  the  female  leaves  the  nest,  but 


PLATE  XII 


1.  BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

3.  BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 


(ONE-HALF    NATURAL    SIZE.) 


4.  CHESTNUT- SIDED  WARBLER,  MALE. 

5.  CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER,  FEMALE 

6.  CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 


BLACK-THROATED   BLUE   WARBLER 


139 


Brewster  states  that  in  northern  New  England  the  nest  is  usually 
built  in  a  yew  (Taxus  canadensis}. 

Nest. — The  nest  of  this  species  may  readily  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  other  Warblers  by  its  bulkiness,  rough  exterior  covered 
with  pieces  of  pithy  wood,  inner  bark  fibers  or  birch  bark.  Jones,1 
nests  were  made  outwardly  of  "what  appears  to  be  the  dry  bark  of 
the  grapevine,  with  a  few  twigs  and  roots.  This  is  covered  in  many 
places  with  a  reddish  wooly  substance,  apparently  the  outer  covering 
of  some  species  of  cocoon.  The  inside  is  composed  of  small  black 
roots  and  hair." 

Bagg's  Utica  nests  are  described  by  him  as  follows:  "The  nests 
are  beautiful  structures,  rather  loosely  put  together  on  the  outside  but 
neatly  lined  and  finished  within.  All  those  I  have  seen  had  one 
peculiarity,  there  entered  into  the  outside  construction  considerable 
rotten  wood  nearly  white  in  color,  so  that  the  nest  looked  quite  light 
colored.  One  nest  contained  a  few  'birch  curls'  giving  it  the  same 
white  appearance.  A  typical  nest,  before  me  is  composed  largely  of 
the  rotten  wood  held  together  with  strips  of  inner  bark  of  deciduous 
trees  and  fibers  of  weed  stalks  and  grasses.  It  is  neatly  lined  with 
fine  black  roots,  entirely,  and  this  lining  seems  to  be  almost  universal, 
though  one  nest  had  some  of  the  finer  quills  of  our  common  porcu- 
pine (even  large  enough  for  their  barbs  to  be  visible  to  the  naked 
eye).  This  sort  of  lining  might  be  satisfactory  to  the  old  bird,  pro- 
tected by  her  coat  of  feathers,  but  would  seem  to  be  somewhat  dan- 
gerous to  her  naked  fledglings. 

"The  measurements  of  this  nest  are,  diameter,  outside,  3^  inches, 
inside,  2%  inches;  height,  outside,  5  inches;  depth,  inside,  i finches." 
(Bagg,  MS.} 

The  nests  found  by  Burtch  (MS.)  are  described  by  him  as  com- 
posed of  strips  of  partially  decayed  bark,  and  white  birch  or  grape- 
vine bark  lined  with  fine  black  rootlets  and  vegetable  fibers. 

Eggs- — 3  or  4>  usually  4.  Ground  color,  buffy  white  to  light 
greenish  white  spotted  and  blotched  with  light  and  dark  reddish 
brown  and  lavender,  in  some  specimens  forming  a  wreath  around 
large  end  in  others  quite  evenly  marked  over  entire  egg.  Size;  aver- 
age of  three  sets,  .66x.5i.  (Figs.  45-47-) 

Nesting  Dates. — Litchfield,  Conn.,  June  8  (Bishop)  ;  Branchport, 
N.  Y.,  June  n  (Burtch};  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  19  (Spaulding}  ; 
Bangor,  Me.,  June  10  (Knight}  ;  Listowel,  Ont.,  May  27-June  9 
(Kelh}  ;  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  May  29,  Westnedge,  (Barroivs}. 


I40  CAIRNS'   WARBLER 

BIOGRAPHICAL   REFERENCES 

(l)  CM.  JONES,  On  the  Breeding  of  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler 
(Dendroica  ccerulescens)  in  Connecticut,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  I,  1876,  n; 
Orn.  and  O61.,  VI,  1881,  49;  IX,  1884,  30.  (2)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  the 
Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  (in  Ontario),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  76;  XIV, 
1869,  170;  Ottawa  Nat.,  XVI,  1902,  181.  (3)  EGBERT  BAGG,  Nesting  of  the 
Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  (  in  N.  N.  Y.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  90. 
(4)  O.  W.  KNIGHT,  Contributions  to  the  Life  History  of  the  Black-throated 
Blue  Warbler,  Journ.  Maine  Orn.  Club,  VIII,  1906,  33.  (5)  JOHN  BURROUGHS, 
Birds'  Nesting,  in  Locusts  and  Wild  Honey,  Riverside  Edition,  1895,  181. 

CAIRNS'  WARBLER 
IDENDROICA  C/ERULESCENS  CAIRNSI  Coue. 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Dendroica  c.  ccerulescens  but  c?  with 
the  back  always  more  or  less  spotted  with  black,  sometimes  the  center  of  the 
back  being  entirely  black.  Adult  ?  generally  darker.  While  specimens  of 
true  ccerulescens  ccerulescens  not  infrequently  show  more  or  less  black  in  the 
back  cairnsi  is  very  rarely  without  this  character. 

General  Distribution. — Higher  parts  of  the  southern  Alleghenies. 

Summer  Range. — Higher  parts  of  the  Alleghenies  northward  to 
Pennsylvania.  (Blue  Knob,  Sugar  Loaf,  Mt.  Rainsburg,)  south  to 
Georgia. 

Winter  Range. — West  Indies. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  southern  Alleghenian  form  of  the 
Black-throated  Blue  Warbler  was  named  by  Dr.  Coues  for  the  late  John 
S.  Cairns  to  whom  we  are  chiefly  indebted  for  our  knowledge  of  its 
life  history.  Cairns2  writes:  "High  up  on  the  heavily  timbered  moun- 
tain ranges  of  western  North  Carolina  is  the  summer  home  of  the 
Black-throated  Blue  Warbler.  [The  bird  had  not  been  subspecifically 
separated  when  Cairns  wrote.]  Here,  in  precipitous  ravines,  amid 
tangled  vines  and  moss-covered  logs,  where  the  sun's  rays  never  pene- 
trate the  rank  vegetation  and  the  air  is  always  cool,  dwells  the  happy 
little  creature,  filling  the  woods  from  dawn  to  twilight  with  its  song. 
*  *  *  These  birds  are  a  local  race;  breeding  from  one  generation 
to  another.  They  arrive  from  the  south  nearly  ten  days  earlier  than 
those  that  pass  through  the  valleys  on  their  northward  migration.  It 
is  common  to  observe  migrants  through  the  valleys  while  breeders  on 
the  higher  mountains  are  already  nest-building  and  rearing  their 
young." 

Nesting  Site. — "Nesting  begins  early  in  May  and  continues  until 
the  end  of  June.  The  nests  are  placed  in  various  shrubs,  such  as 
laurel,  wild  gooseberry,  and  chestnut,  but  the  blue  cohosh  or  papoose- 
root  (Caulophyllum  thalictroides)  seems  to  be  the  favorite.  These  thick 


MYRTLE   WARBLER 


141 


weeds  grow  rapidly  to  a  height  of  from  three  to  five  feet,  entirely 
hiding  the  ground,  and  thus  afford  the  birds  considerable  protection. 
*  *  *  "The  nests  are  never  placed  over  three  feet  from  the  ground ; 
usually  about  eighteen  inches ;  one  I  examined  was  only  six  inches." 
(Cairns2.) 

Nest. — "The  nests  show  little  variation  in  their  construction, 
though  some  are  more  substantially  built  than  others.  Exteriorly 
they  are  composed  of  rhododendron  or  grapevine  bark,  interwoven 
with  birch-bark,  moss,  spider-webs,  and  occasionally  bits  of  rotten 
wood.  The  interior  is  neatly  lined  with  hair-like  moss,  resembling  fine 
black  roots,  mixed  with  a  few  sprays  of  bright  red  moss,  forming  a 
strikingly  beautiful  contrast  to  the  pearly  eggs.  The  female  gathers 
all  the  materials,  and  builds  rapidly,  usually  completing  a  nest  in  from 
four  to  six  days  if  the  weather  is  favorable.  She  is  usually  accom- 
panied by  the  male,  which,  however,  does  not  assist  her  in  any  way." 
(Cairns.2) 

Eggs. — 3  or  4,  usually  4.  The  eggs  of  this  subspecies,  which 
have  been  examined,  do  not  differ  from  those  of  the  foregoing; 
a  typical  set  from  Craggy  Mountain,  Buncombe  Co.,  N.  C.,  measures 
.62X.53,  .66x.53,  .66x.53. 

Nesting  Date. — Buncombe  Co.,  N.  C,  May  21  (C.  IV.  C.). 
BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  S.  B.  LADD,  Nesting  of  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler,  in  Buncombe 
Co.,  N.  C,  Orn.  and  O6L,  XVII,  1892,  129.  (2)  J.  S.  CAIRNS,  The  Summer 
Home  of  Dendroica  carulescens.  Papers  Presented  to  the  World's  Congress  on 
Ornithology,  Chicago,  1896,  136. 

MYRTLE  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  CORONATA  (Linn.)     Plate  X 

Distinguishing  Characters.— In  any  plumage  this  Warbler  may  be  distin- 
guished from  all  other  Warblers,  except  Audubon's  Warbler,  by  the  yellow 
patches  on  crown,  rump  and  both  sides  of  the  breast.  In  the  young  °.  the 
latter  marks  are  sometimes  obsolete  but  their  general  brown  color  above, 
yellow  crown-patch,  and  rump  are  distinctive.  From  Audubon's  Warbler, 
without  regard  to  the  color  of  the  throat,  it  differs  in  having  as  a  rule  only 
two  or  three,  instead  of  four  outer  tail-feathers  marked  with  white.  (But  see 
beyond  under  auduboni.)  Length  (skin),  5.10;  wing,  2.90;  tail,  2.10;  bill,  .35. 

Adult  o*,  Spring.— Center  of  crown,  rump,  and  sides  of  breast  with  a  yellow 
patch;  above  bluish  gray  streaked  with  black,  cheeks  black  a  white  line  over 
eye;  lower  part  of  eye-ring  white;  tail  black  edged  with  gray  the  outer  three 
(rarely  four)  feathers  with  white  patches  near  tip  of  inner  web;  throat  white; 
breast  black  more  or  less  streaked  and  tipped  with  white;  center  of  belly 
and  crissum  white,  flanks  streaked  with  black.  This  plumage  begins  to  appear 
in  March  and  is  not,  as  a  rule,  completed  before  late  April  or  early  May. 


142  MYRTLE    WARBLER 

Adult  cf,  Fall. — Quite  unlike  d  in  Spring;  crown  and  back  grayish  brown; 
the  latter  indistinctly  streaked  with  black;  yellow  of  crown  more  or  less  con- 
cealed by  brownish  tips;  rump  bright  yellow,  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail  as  in 
Spring  cf;  median  and  greater  wing-coverts  margined  with  brownish;  cheeks 
mixed  with  brownish ;  underparts  white,  the  breast  washed  with  brownish  and, 
with  sides,  with  partly  concealed  black  streaks ;  yellow  patches  at  sides  of  breast 
less  pronounced  than  in  Spring. 

Young  <f,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  browner  above,  the  yellow 
crown-patch  sometimes  nearly  hidden;  the  underparts  less  heavily  streaked,  the 
breast  patches  less  pronounced. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Generally  resembling  the  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  with  the 
black  streaks  above  and  below  more  sharply  defined,  the  wing-bars  white,  the 
cheeks  blacker. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Resembles  young  c?  in  Fall  but  averages  browner  and  less 
streaked,  the  edgings  to  the  wing-coverts  browner. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Not  always  to  be  distinguished  from  the  adult  $  in  Fall  but 
the  yellow  crown  and  breast-patches  average  smaller  and  the  latter  are  some- 
times barely  evident  or  wanting. 

Nestling. — Strikingly  different  from  the  nestlings  of  other  Mniotiltidae, 
except  those  of  D.  auduboni.  Above  brown  streaked  with  black  and  edged  with 
buffy;  below  white  heavily  and  definitely  streaked  with  black;  greater  and 
median  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white. 

General  Distribution. — North  America;  north  to  Labrador  and 
Alaska. 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  commonly  north  almost  to  the 
limit  of  tree  growth  from  Labrador  to  Alaska,  and  thence  south  to 
southern  Maine,  the  mountains  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont, 
and  the  Adirondacks;  less  commonly  in  the  Catskills  and  the  more 
elevated  portions  of  Massachusetts;  has  bred  casually  in  the  lower 
districts  of  Massachusetts  (Springfield,  Winchendon),  and  of  New 
York  (Utica,  Buffalo)  ;  reported  as  breeding  once  at  Havre-de- 
Grace,  Maryland.  The  regular  breeding  range  extends  westward 
from  the  Adirondacks,  through  central  Ontario  (Ottawa)  to  northern 
Michigan  (Porcupine  Mountains),  northern  Minnesota,  Manitoba  and 
westward  to  British  Columbia  and  northward  to  Alaska. 

Winter  Range.— Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Panama;  the 
Greater  Antilles,  the  Bahamas,  all  of  southern  United  States  and  north 
to  southeastern  Kansas,  southern  Illinois,  southern  Indiana  and 
northern  New  Jersey.  Along  the  Atlantic  coast  and  a  few  miles  inland, 
it  occurs  with  more  or  less  frequency  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts 
and  even  to  Cape  Elizabeth,  Maine.  In  the  western  United  States 
the  Myrtle  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant  on  the  plains  and  not  rare  at 
the  foothills  of  the  Rockies.  It  is  almost  absent  from  the  western  slope 
of  these  mountains,  but  reappears  again  on  the  Pacific  Coast  as  a  rare 


MYRTLE   WARBLER 


143 


migrant  in  Oregon  and  Washington,  and   a  not  uncommon   winter 
resident  from  central  California  to  Los  Angeles. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PlyACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Germantown,  Pa  

5 

April  27 

April  10   1886 

Renovo,    Pa  

12 

April  30 

April  27    1902 

Southeastern    New   York    

5 

April  25 

April    2    1890 

Central  New  York 

ii 

May      i 

Northeastern  New   York 

8 

May      2 

Portland    Conn 

6 

April  27 

Hartford    Conn      

10 

April  26 

April    8    1803 

Central   Massachusetts 

ii 

April  28 

West   Groton,    Mass 

7 

April  24 

April  18    1897 

Framingham,    Mass 

8 

April  20 

Boston,   Mass    .       .  .           .    . 

ii 

April  22 

St.  Johnsbury,  Vt        

5 

April  27 

Southern  New  Hampshire   
Southern  Maine   

7 
14 

April  23 
April  23 

March  20,  1900 

Montreal,   Can.       

4 

May      7 

May      3    1890 

Quebec,    Can.    .  .  .  :  

10 

May      6 

April  30    1896 

St.  John,  N.  B  

ii 

April  23 

April  15    1897 

Pictou,  N.  S  

10 

April  30 

April  25    1892 

Halifax,   N.   S  

4 

May      2 

April  26    1896 

North  River,  P.  E.  I  

4 

April  26 

April  24    1891 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
Chicago,    111  

9 

April  16 

April    6,  1894 

Rockford,    111  

6 

April  15 

April  10,  1886 

Waterloo,   Ind  

10 

April  23 

April  n,  1887 

Wauseon,    Ohio    

7 

April  29 

April  16,  1887 

Oberlin    Ohio 

8 

April  24 

April  12    1904 

Milwaukee    Wis 

10 

April  18 

April    6    1892 

Central    Wisconsin 

ii 

April  19 

April  13    1886 

Petersburg    Mich 

13 

April  25 

April  17    1886 

Grand   Rapids,   Mich 

5 

April  16 

April  10    1896 

Detroit,    Mich 

13 

April  28 

April  ii    1891 

Southern    Ontario 

13 

April  29 

April  19    1897 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  

8 

May      2 

April  29    1899 

Ottawa,  Ont  

15 

May      2 

April  23    1889 

Keokuk,  Iowa   

10 

April  20 

April    8    1888 

Iowa   City,   Iowa    

7 

April  20 

April    5    1888 

Grinnell     Iowa 

5" 

April  18 

April    8    1889 

Lanesboro     Minn 

9 

April  16 

April  9    1889 

Elk  River,  Minn    

7 

April  16 

April  10    1888 

Aweme,    Manitoba     
Osier     Sask 

8 

April  23 

April  21,  1901 
Mav      A.    180"? 

Fort  Providence,   Mackenzie   
Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  

May     14,  1905 
Mav      7    1004 

Terry,   Mont  

4 

May      6 

May      2    1894 

Southern   British   Columbia   

3 

April  15 

April  14,  1889 

144 


MYRTLE    WARBLER 


I:all  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

F.arlicsl  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Aweme    Manitoba   

September  n 

September    7    1902 

September  22 

September  15    1887 

Grinnell,   Iowa    

4 

September  23 

September    6,  1885 

6 

September  27 

September  25    1899 

Detroit,    Mich  

1  1 

September  28 

September  16,  1^89 

Oberlin    Ohio 

September  27 

Waterloo,   Ind     

October  3 

October    2,  1891 

Central    Massachusetts 

September  13    1892 

Central   Connecticut 

October  7 

September  20    1888 

Southeastern   New   York   

8 

October  5 

September  29,  1893 

Renovo     Pa 

September  23    1900 

Germantown,    Pa     

6 

September  27 

September  22,  1888 

Washington,  D.  C  

3 

October  i 

September  30,  1890 

Tallahassee    Fla                

October  16    1904 

• 

PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Nahanni  River,  Mackenzie.... 

October  15,  1903 

Aweme,    Man 

6 

October  10 

October  14,  1900 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

October  22 

October  28,  1887 

Keokuk,    Iowa    

4 

October  18 

October  26,  1897 

Detroit,    Mich 

12 

October  17 

November  19,  1904 

Chicago,    111  

6 

October  23 

October  31,  1897 

Ottawa,  Ont 

October  23 

November    3,  1888 

Southern    Ontario 

7 

October  24 

November    8,  1898 

Oberlin,   Ohio    

4 

October  26 

November    2,  1899 

North  River,  P.  E   I    . 

October  15,  1888 

St.  John,  N.  B  

6 

October  23 

November    4,  1891 

Southern  Maine 

g 

October  17 

October  24    1892 

Central   Massachusetts   

8 

October  19 

October  22    1899 

Central   Connecticut 

4 

October  26 

October  30    1900 

Renovo,    Pa  

5 

October  25 

October  29    1900 

New  Providence,  N   J    .... 

October  23 

October  29    1892 

Southeastern   New   York    

5 

November  12 

November  20    1891 

Germantown,  Pa         .... 

November    9 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts.— The  Yellow  Warbler  was  the  first,  the 
Myrtle,  the  second  member  of  the  genus  Dendroica  whose  acquaint- 
ances I  made  in  life.  The  experience  is  doubtless  not  unusual  for  this 
Warbler  is  so  abundant,  so  generally  distributed,  and  so  conspicuous, 
that  even  as  a  migrant  it  cannot  fail  to  attract  the  attention  of  any 
one  looking  for  birds.  Furthermore,  it  appears  to  travel  leisurely  and, 
under  certain  conditions,  often  winters  in  numbers  far  north  of  the 
winter  home  of  the  warblers  which  pass  this  season  in  the  United 
States. 


^•EBL  /^p6,  ''ff^^' 

I  Hi  iH 

^H  i 

^P    51  "  ^r 


Figs.  35,  36.   Cape  May  Warbler. 
"     37,  38.  Olive  Warbler. 
"     39-41.   Yellow  Warbler. 
"    42-44.   Bryant's  Warbler. 
"    45-47.  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler. 
!•    48,  49.   Myrtle  Warbler. 


Figs.  50.  51.  Audubon's  Warbler. 
"     52-54.   Magnolia  Warbler. 
•*    55,  56.  Cerulean  Warbler. 
«    57-59.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 
*    60.61.   Bay-breasted  Warbler. 
"    62-64.  Blackpoll  Warbler. 


MYRTLE   WARBLER  145 

In  the  spring  the  Myrtle  Warbler  is  often  found  in  the  woods, 
but  in  autumn  it  is  rather  a  bird  of  bushy  second  growths,  scrubs, 
and  hedgerows,  where  its  characteristic  tchip  and  the  flash  of  its 
yellow  rump  seem  as  much  a  part  of  the  season  as  the  peek  of 
White-throated  Sparrows  or  twitter  of  Juncos.  Especially  is  it 
to  be  found  in  numbers  where  the  myrtle  or  bayberries — after 
which  it  is  named — flourish;  the  supply  of  these  berries  gener- 
ally determining  the  bird's  presence  or  absence,  during  the  winter. 
At  this  season  insects'  eggs  or  larvae  are  also  eaten,  the  bird 
at  times  frequenting  our  homes  to  glean  from  the  cocoons  placed 
in  sheltered  crevices  about  our  buildings. 

In  the  summer  the  Myrtle  Warbler  dwells  in  coniferous  growths. 
Gerald  Thayer  writes  that  it  is  "a  regular  breeder  in  the  Monadnock 
region,  common  among  the  scattered  spruces  on  the  mountain's  rocky 
ridge,  and  on  the  higher  of  the  neighboring  hills,  but  uncommon  in 
the  intervening  lower  country  (1,500-1000  feet).  During  both  migra- 
tions it  is  by  long  odds  our  most  abundant  Warbler, — everywhere, 
high  and  low.  A  big,  brisk,  tame,  restless  Warbler ;  the  first  to  reach 
Monadnock  in  the  spring  and  the  last  to  leave  in  the  fall.  It  ranges 
from  the  ground  and  low  bushes  to  tree-tops,  in  scrub-lands  and  half- 
open  woods,  avoiding  the  deep  forests.  Recognizable  even  in  dingiest 
immature  plumage  by  its  neatly-defined  bright  yellow  rump."  (  Thayer, 
MS.} 

In  Louisiana,  in  winter,  Allison  states  that  "open  woods,  prefer- 
ably not  of  coniferous  trees,  are  its  typical  haunts;  but  the  bare,  open 
fields,  the  thick  roadside  hedge  of  Cherokee  rose  or  Osage  orange — in 
both  of  which  these  birds  roost  in  large  numbers — the  weeds  and 
shrubs  in  neglected  city  lots ;  the  trees  and  shrubbery  of  yards  and 
parks,  all  invite  Myrtle  Warblers.  Perhaps  the  place  where  a  Wood 
Warbler  is  least  to  be  expected  is  the  sandy  sea-beach ;  but  along  the 
shores  of  the  Gulf  I  have  often  seen  them  flitting  along,  alighting 
sometimes  on  the  sand,  sometimes  on  half-buried  logs  and  posts. 
They  make  frequent  fly-catching  excursions  from  these  perches,  after 
the  manner  of  the  American  Redstart."  (Allison,  MS.) 

Song. — The  Myrtle  Warbler  has  an  easily  recognizable  and 
characteristic  tchip  or  tchep,  which,  once  learned,  readily  identifies  the 
species.  (But  see  also  under  D.  cerulea.) 

"Two  call-notes  are  common ;  the  first,  serving  to  announce  the 
arrival  of  the  bird  in  fall,  and  used  through  much  of  the  winter — not 
at  all  or  but  little,  in  spring — is  uttered  in  flight.  It  resembles  the  syl- 
lable sweet  uttered  with  rising  inflection.  The  second  is  of  rather 


146 


MYRTLE    WARBLER 


deeper  tone  than  most  of  our  Warbler  notes ;  it  is  less  used  in  flight,  but 
is  probably  the  most  familiar  bird-voice  with  us  in  winter;  it  is  some- 
what difficult  to  render,  being  rather  variable;  perhaps  the  syllable 
psit  is  the  best  rendering.  The  song  is  not  often  heard  before  the 
end  of  February,  never  in  the  fall  and  early  winter,  and  is  ordinarily 
not  very  frequent,  even  in  March  and  April.  It  is  uttered  from  a  rest, 
and  is  of  rather  an  erratic  character — not  unlike  that  of  the  Sycamore 
Warbler,  but  brighter  and  more  varied,  though  not  longer."  (Allison, 
MS.) 

"The  Myrtle  is  a  full-voiced  Warbler.  It  chips  like  almost  all 
the  rest,  but  it  also  loudly  tcheps,  as  probably  no  other  New  England 
Warbler  does.  Its  common  summer  song  about  Monadnock  is  a  loud 
and  silvery  'sleigh-bell'  trill, — a  vivid,  sprightly  utterance, — often 
more  or  less  broken  up  into  separate  notes,  particularly  in  its  dimi- 
nuendo termination.  If  it  were  a  little  fuller,  and  more  evenly  sus- 
tained, it  would  be  hard  to  tell  from  kindred  variations  of  the  Junco's 
song,  its  commonest  companion  and  accompaniment  among  the  rocks 
and  spruce-trees  of  Monadnock.  Sometimes,  especially  in  spring,  this 
Warbler  sings  quite  differently;  a  deliberate  phrase  of  three  or  four 
or  five  well-separated  syllables,  having  the  usual  tone  and  volume,  but 
lacking,  sometimes  only  in  part,  the  jingling  tremulo.  Of  this  song 
there  are  at  least  two  main  forms,  both  of  which  vary  a  good  deal, 
and  also  intergrade  with  the  summer  jingle."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Miss  Paddock  presents  four  renderings  of  the  Myrtle  Warbler's 
song. 


Nesting  Site. — Generally  about  four  feet  up  in  small  coniferous 
trees,  but  sometimes  as  high  as  twenty  feet.  (Maynard.) 

Nest. — The  Myrtle  Warbler  builds  a  loosely  made,  bulky  nest  of 
rather  large  twigs  of  conifers,  dried  grass  stems,  lichens,  weed-stalks, 


AUDUBON'S  WARBLER  !47 

etc.,  lined  with  hair,  rootlets,  and  a  large  number  of  feathers ;  this 
feather  lining  and  the  coarse  character  of  the  nest  apparently  being 
diagnostic. 

Terrill2  describes  the  nest  as  "very  substantial  and  warmly  built" 
and  "composed  chiefly  of  dead  spruce  twigs  with  a  few  grasses  and 
rootlets,  bound  with  spiders'  silk  and  thickly  lined  with  feathers  and 
animal  hair." 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  dull  white  to  creamy 
white  spotted  and  blotched  with  various  shades  of  reddish  brown, 
pale  lavender,  and  a  few  marks  of  purplish  black;  in  most  cases  a 
wreath  around  large  end.  Size ;  average,  ./ox. 53,  extremes  measure 
75X.55,  .64x.5i.  (Figs.  48,49.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Lancaster,  N.  H.,  May  31 -June  7  (Spaulding)  ; 
Bangor,  Me.,  May  30- June  6  (Knight)  ;  Listowel,  Ont,  June  8 
(Kelts)  ;  Porcupine  Mts.,  Mich.,  July  16,  adults  with  young,  (Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  KELLS,  The  Myrtle  Warbler  (in  Ontario),  Ottawa  Nat,  XVI, 
1002,  144.  (2)  L.  M.  TERRILL,  Summer  Warblers  in  Compton  County,  Quebec, 
Ibid.,  XVIII,  1904,  151. 

AUDUBON'S  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  AUDUBONI  AUDUBONI   (Towns.)     Plate  X 

Distinguishing  Characters. — With  a  general  resemblance  to  Dendroica  cor- 
onata  but  with  the  throat  usually  yellow  the  outer  four  tail-feathers  marked 
with  white.  In  some  young  females  the  yellow  of  throat  is  barely  evident  or 
wholly  absent  but  almost  invariably  they  may  be  distinguished  from  D.  coro- 
nata  by  having  four  instead  of  three  outer  tail-feathers  with  white.  I  have 
seen  but  one  specimen  of  auduboni  having  only  three  outer  tail-feathers 
with  white,  but  in  this,  a  young  female,  the  amount  of  white  was  so  in  excess 
of  that  which  is  found  in  coronata  of  the  same  age  and  sex  that  the  bird's 
identity  was  unquestionable.  Length  (skin),  5.10;  wing,  3.00;  tail,  2.30;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  £,  Spring. — Above  bluish  gray  streaked  with  black,  crown-patch 
and  rump  bright  yellow ;  upper  and  lower  portions  of  eye-ring  white,  cheeks 
bluish  gray;  tail  black  edged  with  gray  the  outer  four  or  five  feathers  with  a 
white  patch  near  the  tip;  wings  black  edged  with  gray  the  median  wing- 
coverts  broadly  tipped,  the  greater  coverts  tipped  and,  externally,  widely  mar- 
gined with  white  forming  a  white  patch  in  the  wing;  throat  and  sides  of  the 
breast  yellow;  breast  black  more  or  less  edged  with  gray,  white  of  belly 
dividing  the  black  posteriorly;  flanks  white  streaked  with  black.  (This  plum- 
age is  usually  acquired  in  April.) 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — Quite  unlike  c?  in  Spring:  crown  and  back  grayish  brown 
the  latter  indistinctly  streaked  with  black;  yellow  of  crown  more  or  less  con- 
cealed by  brownish  tips;  rump  bright  yellow;  tail  as  in  Spring;  margins  to 
wing-coverts  more  or  less  brownish;  throat  yellowish  white  tinged  with  buff 


I48 


AUDUBON'S  WARBLER 


and    spotted   basally   with   black,   a   yellow    tuft   on    each    side   of   the   breast, 
flanks  indistinctly  streaked  with  black;  belly  white. 

Young  <f,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Fall  but  browner  above,  the  streaks 
less  pronounced;  yellow  of  throat  paler  and  with  yellow  on  sides  less  pro- 
nounced; breast  and  sides  browner,  the  black  markings  less  evident. 

Adult  ?,  Spring.— With  a  general  resemblance  to  the  adult  c?  in  Fall,  but 
crown-patch  often  tipped  with  black,  the  rump  paler,  the  breast  somewhat 
blacker. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  young  <£  in  Fall. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Resembles  adult  ?  in  Fall  but  is  browner  above,  the 
streaks  and  crown-patch  less  evident;  breast  browner,  throat  with  less  yellow 
or,  rarely,  with  none  at  all ;  white  in  tail  diminished  in  amount  but  nearly 
always  reaching  to  fourth  feather. 

Nestling. — Resembling  nestling  of  Dendroica  coronata;  above  brown 
streaked  with  black  and  white;  below  white  streaked  with  black;  wings  and 
tail  as  in  young  c?  in  Fall,  but  greater  coverts  tipped  and  not  margined  with 
whitish. 

General  Distribution. — Western  United  States;  north  to  British 
Columbia  and  South  Dakota;  east  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — This  is  one  of  the  most  common  Warblers  of 
the  Pacific  slope ;  it  breeds  from  southern  California  ( San  Bernardino 
Mountains),  and  New  Mexico  (Wheeler  Park,  Tres  Piedras),  north 
to  British  Columbia  ( 158-Mile  House),  Alberta  (Calgary),  Montana 
and  South  Dakota  (Black  Hills)  ;  east  to  northeastern  Nebraska 
(Sioux  Co.),  and  western  Texas  (Fort  Davis,  Guadalupe  Mountains). 
Accidental  in  Massachusetts  (Cambridge,  November  15,  1876)  and 
in  Pennsylvania  (Chester  Co.,  November  8,  1899).  , 

Winter  Range. — Guatemala  and  Mexico,  north  to  the  Rio  Grande ; 
through  most  of  the  valleys  of  California  to  southern  Oregon  and 
rarely  to  southern  British  Columbia. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Huachuca    Mts.,   Arizona    
Coonev,  New  Mex    

April  19,  1890 
March    6,  1903 

Carlisle,    New    Mex  

April    9,  1889 

Loveland    Colo 

2 

April  21 

April  17,  1890 

Custer  City,   S    D  

2 

May      2 

May  2,  1896,  1897 

Great   Falls    Mont 

2 

April  29 

April  28,  1890 

Columbia   Falls,    Mont 

4 

April  23 

April  21,  1895 

Rathdrum,  Idaho   

April  15,  1899 

Beaverton    Oreg 

March    9,  1885 

Newport,    Oreg  

2 

March  21 

February  13,  1897 

Southern   British   Columbia 

3 

March  20 

March    17 

AUDUBON'S  WARBLER  149 

Fall  Migration. — In  August  the  mountain  breeding  birds  begin 
to  descend  to  lower  altitudes  and  during  September  reappear  on  the 
plains.  The  earliest  migrants  move  south  of  the  breeding  range  in 
the  last  week  of  September  and  enter  Mexico  soon  after  the  first  of 
October.  The  northern  part  of  the  range  in  Montana  is  deserted  about 
the  loth  of  October. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Audubon's  Warbler  is  the  Myrtle 
Warbler  of  the  west.  It  is  the  same  hardy,  active  bird  with  a  similar 
characteristic  tchip  and  conspicuously  yellow-patched  rump. 

In  Colorado,  Keyser5  says  "this  species  inhabits  all  the  upper 
mountain  valleys  and  on  the  steep  slopes  of  the  western  as  well  as  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  Divide,  I  had  the  Audubon  Warblers  often  at 
my  elbow.  In  summer  they  make  their  homes  at  an  altitude  of  seven 
to  eleven  thousand  feet  and  are  partial  to  pine  timber ;  indeed,  I  think 
I  never  found  them  elsewhere  save  occasionally  among  the  quaking 
asps." 

Walter  Fisher  writes  that  in  California  "in  winter,  Audubon's 
Warblers  invade  the  warmer  valleys  of  the  western,  and  are  particu- 
larly abundant  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  where  they  are  perhaps 
more  in  evidence  than  any  other  birds.  They  take  possession  of 
orchards,  arroyos,  open  plains,  and  even  hot  hillsides  among  chamiso 
and  yuccas,  and  ply  their  fly-catching  trade  with  great  singleness  of 
purpose.  They  burst  from  sycamore  tops  and  dash  after  minute 
insects,  hover,  and  zigzag  as  skillfully  as  any  Flycatcher.  During  these 
very  frequent  sallies  the  yellow  rump-patch  is  more  or  less  visible 
and  serves  as  a  convenient  mark  for  identification.  The  white  mark- 
ings of  wings  and  tail  are  even  more  conspicuous  and  useful  for  this 
purpose. 

"During  the  breeding  season  auduboni  retires  to  the  higher  moun- 
tains and  lives  among  firs  and  pines  of  the  Canadian  zone.  The  breast 
now  acquires  two  conspicuous  black  patches  which  contrast  beautifully 
with  the  yellow  throat.  The  favorite  hunting  grounds  of  this  Warbler 
are  among  firs,  pines,  and  incense  cedars,  or  occasionally  in  willow 
copses.  The  male  is  of  a  particularly  musical  disposition,  providing  a 
rather  monotonous  flow  of  notes  to  which  the  ear  is  soon  likely  to 
become  insensible.  Wherever  Calaveras  and  Audubon  Warblers  are 
abundant  silence  is  banished  from  the  mountains."  (Fisher,  MS.} 

Song. — The  call-note  of  this  species  resembles  the  characteristic 
tchip  of  its  eastern  representative,  the  Myrtle  Warbler. 

Bowles4  describes  the  song  as  "a  short  though  pleasing  little 
warble,  surprisingly  feeble  for  so  large  a  bird,  and  in  no  way  equal 
to  that  of  its  smaller  relative  the  Yellow  Warbler  (D.  estiva)" 


150  AUDUBON'S  WARBLER 


Site.  —  In  Estes  i'ark,  Colorado,  the  nest  is  saddled  on  the 
limb  of  a  pine  or  spruce  eight  to  thirty-five  feet  from  the  ground, 
sometimes  near  the  trunk,  at  others  ten  feet  out.  Bowles  (MS.) 
writes  that  at  Tacoma,  Washington,  this  species  "nests  invari- 
ably in  fir  trees  on  a  limb,  from  four  to  fifty  feet,  but  usually  about 
twenty  feet  up."  In  Arizona,  Howard3  states  that  a  nest  placed 
fifteen  feet  up  in  a  fir  tree  was  unusually  low  for  this  species,  and 
records  a  second  nest  as  fifty  feet  up  in  a  sugar  pine  twelve  feet  out 
from  the  trunk.  At  Fort  Sherman,  Idaho,  however,  a  majority  of  the 
nests  found  by  Merrill2  "were  in  deciduous  trees  and  bushes  generally 
but  a  few  feet  from  the  ground." 

Nest.  —  "Loosely  constructed  of  weed-stems  and  tops,  and  strips 
of  bark,  lined  with  fine  weeds  and  horse-hair."  (Estes  Park,  Colo.) 
"The  nest  is  a  well  built  bulky  structure,  the  largest  of  any  of  our 
Warblers',  measuring  externally  3.5  inches  in  width  by  2.5  inches  in 
depth.  *  *  *  It  is  very  handsome,  as  a  rule,  being  built  of  fir  twigs, 
everlasting  weed,  rootlets,  moss,  and  dried  grass  with  a  thick  lining  of 
horse-hair  and  feathers."  (Bowles*.) 

"The  nests  are  very  loosely  constructed  being  composed  almost 
entirely  of  loose  straws  with  a  few  feathers  and  hair  for  lining." 
(Howard*.}  "Such  nests  as  were  found  here,  while  varying  consider- 
ably as  to  exterior,  agree  in  having  a  lining  in  which  black  horse  hairs 
are  conspicuous,  and  in  which  feathers  are  loosely  attached,  not  well 
woven  in  as  is  usual  in  most  small  nests."  (Merrill2.') 

Eggs.  —  3  to  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  varies  from  dull  white 
or  greenish  white  to  bluish  white,  spotted  and  blotched  with  olive- 
brown,  lilac,  purplish  brown  and  lavender,  very  sparingly  in  some 
types,  quite  boldly  in  others,  but  usually  forming  more  or  less  of  a 
wreath  around  large  end.  Size;  average,  .72x^4,  extremes  measure 
74X.53,  .69X.55,  .72x^1,  .72x^6.  (Figs.  50,51.) 

Nesting  Dates.  —  Colorado,  between  7,600-8,600  feet  altitude,  June 
16  (Dille)  ;  Tacoma,  Wash.,  April  22,  four  eggs  ready  to  hatch  —  June 
26  four  eggs  fresh.  (Bowles). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  H.  W.  HENSHAW,  Zool.  Exp.  W.  xooth  Merid.,  1875,  194.  (2)  J.  C. 
MERRILL,  Birds  of  Fort  Sherman,  Idaho,  Auk,  XV,  1898.  18.  (3)  O.  W. 
HOWARD,  Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull  Cooper  Orn.  Club 
(=Condor),  I,  1809,  64.  (4)  J.  H.  BOWLES,  The  Audubon  Warbler  in  Wash- 
ington, Condor,  IV,  1902,  118.  (5)  L.  KEYSER,  Birds  of  the  Rockies,  62. 


BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER  151 

BLACK-FRONTED   WARBLER 

DENDROICA  AUDUBONI  NIGRIFRONS    (Brewst.) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  D.  a.  auduboni  but  larger  and  more 
widely  streaked  with  black;  the  Spring  c?  with  the  forehead,  cheeks,  and  sides 
of  crown  black;  black  below  extending  to  the  belly  and  without  grayish  tips. 
Wing,  3.10;  tail,  2.35;  bill,  .40. 

General  Distribution. — High  Sierras  of  western  Mexico  north  to 
Arizona. 

Summer  Range. — High  Sierras  of  northwestern  Mexico  from 
Durango  north  to  the  Chiricahua,  Huachuca  and  Santa  Catalina  Moun- 
tains, southern  Arizona. 

Winter  Range. — Western  Mexico. 

Spring  Migration. — Huachuca  Mountains,  Arizona,  April  5,  1903, 
May  9,  1902. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Discovered  by  Frazar  in  the  Sierra 
Madre  of  Chihuahua  in  1888  (Brewster1) ,  this  subspecies  was  added 
to  our  fauna  in  1894  by  Price  who  took  eleven  specimens  in  the 
Huachuca  and  Chiricahua  Mountains  of  southern  Arizona  (Loomu2). 
Ridgway  records  an  intermediate  breeding  male  from  mountains  near 
the  head  of  Pecos  River,  New  Mexico. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Descriptions  of  Supposed  New  Birds  from  Western 
North  America  and  Mexico,  The  Auk,  VI,  1889,  94.  (See  also  colored  plate, 
No.  I,  in  Ibid.,  IX,  1892.)  (2)  L.  M.  LOOMIS,  An  Addition  to  the  A.  O.  U. 
Check-List,  Auk,  XVIII,  1901,  110. 

BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  NIGRESCENS  (Towns.)     Plate  XIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  general  gray  color,  black  or  black  and 
white  throat  and  entire  absence  of  yellow,  except  the  spot  before  the  eye 
readily  distinguish  this  species.  Length  (skin),  4.30;  wing,  2.40;  tail,  2.00; 
bill,  .40. 

Adult  3,  Spring. — Crown  largely  or  entirely  black;  cheeks  black  bordered 
by  white  below;  a  broad  white  line  behind  the  eye,  a  yellow  spot  before  it; 
back  gray,  its  center  streaked  with  black ;  tail  edged  with  gray,  the  two  outer 
feathers  largely  white  on  both  webs,  third  feather  white  on  the  inner  web 
at  the  end;  wings  edged  with  gray,  the  secondaries  internally  margined  with 
white,  the  greater  and  median  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white  forming  two 
conspicuous  bars;  throat  and  upper  breast  black  (rarely  mottled  with  white) 
sharply  defined  from  rest  of  underparts,  which  are  white;  sides  streaked  with 
black. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  upperparts  and  cheeks 
more  or  less  margined  with  brownish  gray;  throat  margined  with  white,  sides 
washed  with  brown,  the  black  streaking  s  obscured. 


152 


BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER 


Young  d,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  d  in  Fall  but  generally  no  black  in  back, 
chin  white,  throat  usually  more  or  less  mottled  with  white,  sides  browner,  no 
white  on  secondaries. 

Adult  ?,  Spring.— Similar  to  adult  d  in  Spring  and  sometimes  not  dis- 
tinguishable from  it,  but,  as  a  rule,  with  less  black  on  the  head,  back  browner 
and  less  heavily  streaked;  wings  and  tail  browner  and  with  less  white;  throat 
and  upper  breast  mottled  with  black  and  white. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  upperparts  and  cheeks 
washed  with  grayish  brown,  black  of  throat  margined  with  white,  sides  tinged 
with  brown,  the  black  streakings  obscured. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  adult  $  in  Fall  but  often 
with  less  black. 

Nestling. — Above  brownish  gray,  a  broad  whitish  postocular  stripe;  below 
gray,  belly  white,  breast  lightly  streaked;  wings  and  tail  as  in  young. 

General  Distribution. — Western  United  States. 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  from  northern  Lower  California, 
southern  California,  southern  Arizona  and  New  Mexico;  north  to 
British  Columbia  and  east  to  central  Colorado  (Idaho  Springs). 

Winter  Range. — Winters  in  Mexico. 

Spring  Migration. —  The  species  enters  southern  California  the 
first  week  in  April  and  reaches  southern  British  Columbia  the  third 
week  in  the  month.  The  earliest  dates  in  southern  Arizona  and 
southern  New  Mexico  are  included  between  April  6  and  April  9; 
while  the  species  appears  in  the  northern  portion  of  its  Colorado  range 
early  in  May. 

Fall  Migration. — The  last  birds  do  not  leave  central  California 
until  the  first  week  in  October  and  the  species  does  not  desert  the 
State  until  after  the  middle  of  the  month. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — "These  birds  are  very  plentiful  during 
the  breeding  season  in  the  mountains  of  southern  Arizona.  They  may  be 
found  from  an  altitude  of  4,000  to  9,000  feet,  but  are  more  common  in 
the  oak  belt,  from  4,000  to  7,000  feet  altitude,  where  a  great  many  of 
them  breed.  Nevertheless,  comparatively  few  nests  are  found.  I  be- 
lieve the  reason  for  this  is,  because,  unlike  other  Warblers,  these  birds 
do  not  have  a  note  of  alarm  nor  do  they  show  any  signs  of  breeding. 
The  birds  are  constantly  on  the  jump,  apparently  catching  insects. 
Even  when  flushed  from  the  nest  they  will  hop  about  in  their  usual 
unconcerned  manner."  (Horvard*.} 

Of  this  Warbler  in  California  Walter  Fisher  writes :  "The  Black- 
throated  Gray  goes  about  its  affairs  in  a  quiet  business-like  manner 
suggesting  the  Lutescent  Warbler,  and  differs,  therefore,  in  tempera- 
ment from  both  the  Calaveras  and  Audubon  Warblers  which  are 
always  in  evidence.  It  lives  in  chaparral  such  as  deer  brush,  wild  lilac 


PLATE  XIII 


1.  YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

3.  GRACE'S  WARBLER,  MALE. 


4.  GRACE'S  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 

5.  BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER,  MALE. 

6.  BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER,  FEMAL 


(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


•A    ? 


BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER  153 

of  various  species,  scrub  oak,  and  sometimes,  particularly  in  the  humid 
coast  districts,  among  evergreens.  It  is  fond  of  the  neighborhood  of 
clearings  where  it  works  constantly  and  carefully  among  low  growth. 
Although  it  does  not  force  itself  upon  one's  attention  it  is  a  very 
active  bird  and  during  the  day  must  cover  considerable  territory." 
(Fisher,  MS.) 

Bowles*,  writing  from  Oregon,  says  that  in  habits  the  Black- 
throated  Gray  suggests  both  the  Black-throated  Green  and  Prairie 
Warblers.  Like  the  former,  it  likes  tall  trees  with  a  preference  for 
scattered  conifers  having  a  bushy  undergrowth.  Like  the  Prairie  it 
prefers  high  and  dry  places,  though  it  does  not  object  to  a  swamp  if 
the  ground  beneath  the  nest  is  dry. 

Two  pairs  this  writer  watched  while  building  "had  the  same  way 
of  going  about  it.  The  male  followed  the  female  very  closely,  scold- 
ing almost  continuously,  or  perhaps  making  suggestions,  as  she  did 
not  seem  to  mind  it  and  gathered  materials  and  acted  very  much  as  if 
he  was  not  there.  This  continuous  scolding  generally  seems  to  indicate 
nest-building  and  is  apparently  the  only  direct  method  of  finding  the 
nest." 

Near  Pyramid  Lake,  in  western  Nevada,  I  found  the  Black- 
throated  Gray  in  stunted  junipers. 

Song. — "Its  song  is  a  simple  Warbler  lay,  zee-ee-zee-ee,  ze,  ze,  ze, 
with  the  quiet  woodsy  quality  of  virens  and  coerulescens,  so  soothing 
to  the  ear."  (Bailey.} 

Nesting  Site. — In  Arizona  Howard3  found  many  nests  of  this 
species  in  dense  thickets  of  scrub  oak  in  the  fork  of  the  larger  limbs 
quite  often  within  reach  of  the  ground,  while  other  nests  were  placed 
high  up  in  the  pines.  In  the  Sierras  of  California,  Barlow2,  recording 
Carriger's  observations,  states  that  several  nests  "were  found  in  the 
deer  brush  at  from  five  to  nine  feet  up  and  two  were  placed  in  pines, 
one  twelve  feet  up  on  a  small  limb,  and  another  fifty-two  feet  up  on  a 
horizontal  limb." 

In  Oregon,  Prill1  writes  that  "the  nest  is  placed  in  some  small  fir, 
generally  not  over  five  or  six  feet  high;  while  Bowles4  finds  the  nest 
of  this  species  "from  three  feet  and  three  inches  to  twenty-five  feet 
from  the  ground,  oaks  seeming  the  favorite  in  southern  Oregon  and 
fir  near  Tacoma." 

Nest. — Howard3  describes  the  nests  as  "very  compact,  of  a  deep 
cup  shape,  much  like  those  of  the  Yellow  Warbler.  The  nesting  ma- 
terial varies  according  to  locality." 

Prill1  writes  that  the  nest  is  "made  of  fine  grass,  profusely  lined 


154  TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER 

with  feathers."  Bowles4  states  that  "the  nests  externally  are  about 
3x2}  inches  and  internally  ijxif  in  diameter  and  depth.  They 
are  composed  externally  of  grass  and  weed-stalks  that  must  be  several 
seasons  old,  being  bleached,  and  very  soft  moss  and  feathers ;  lined  with 
feathers  (one  had  evidently  been  lined  from  a  dead  Steller  Jay),  horse, 
cow,  and  rabbit  hair  or  fur,  and  sometimes  the  very  fine  stems  of 
flowers  of  some  kind  of  moss." 

Eggs. — 3  or  4,  usually  4.  Ground  color  white  to  very  pale 
greenish  white,  delicately  marked  with  specks  and  spots  of  red-brown, 
purplish,  and  under  shell  markings  of  pale  lavender,  forming  a  well- 
defined  wreath  around  the  large  end  with  few  spots  and  specks  spar- 
ingly distributed  over  rest  of  the  egg.  Size;  average,  .6o,x.5o.  (Figs. 
69-71.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Mountains  north  of  Pasadena,  Calif.,  May  19, 
four  small  young  in  nest;  June  26,  three  eggs  incubated  (Grinnell)  ; 
Fyffe,  Eldorado  Co.,  Calif.,  June  5  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Tacoma,  Wash.,  May 
14- June  24  (Bowles). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  A.  G.  PRILL,  Black-throated  Gray  Warbler,  (in  Oregon),  Oologist, 
IX,  1892,  128.  (2)  C.  BARLOW,  The  Nesting  Haunts  of  the  Black-throated 
Gray  Warbler  (in  Calif.),  Bull.  Cooper  Orn.  Club  (=Condor),  I,  1899,  06. 
(3)  O.  W.  HOWARD,  Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull.  Cooper  Orn. 
Club  (==Condor),  I,  1809,  64.  (4)  C.  W.  BOWLES,  Notes  on  the  Black-throated 
Gray  Warbler  (in  Oregon),  Condor,  IV,  1902,  82.  (5)  W.  L.  FINLEY,  Two 
Oregon  Warblers,  The  Condor,  VI,  1904,  31. 

TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  TOWNSENDI  (Towni.)    Plate  XV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  c?  in  Spring  may  be  known  by  its 
black  throat  and  crown  and  black  cheeks  surrounded  by  yellow  lines;  in  other 
plumages  the  yellow  or  yellowish  throat,  black  spots  or  bases  to  feathers  of 
crown,  yellow  mark  below  eye  and  dusky  or  olive  cheeks,  surrounded  by  yel- 
low, are  characteristic.  Length  (skin),  4.60;  wing,  2.60;  tail,  1.95;  bill,  .35. 

Adult  d,  Spring. — Crown  black,  rest  of  upperparts  olive-green  spotted 
with  black;  a  black  band  through  the  cheeks  bordered  above  by  a  yellow 
superciliary  line,  below  by  a  yellow  stripe  on  the  side  of  the  throat  which 
broadens  into  a  yellow  patch  on  the  side  of  the  neck;  a  yellow  spot  under 
eye;  tail  margined  with  grayish,  both  webs  of  two  outer  feathers  largely 
white,  the  inner  web  of  third  to  fourth  feather  with  white  at  the 
end ;  wings  margined  with  grayish ;  end  half  of  median  coverts  white,  greater 
coverts  tipped  with  white  forming  two  conspicuous  bands;  throat  and  upper 
breast  black,  lower  breast  yellow,  belly  white,  sides  streaked  with  black. 

Adult  c?,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  d  in  Spring  but  black  areas  nearly  con- 
cealed by  olive-green  tips;  black  cheeks  with  slight  greenish  tips;  black  on 


TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER  !55 

throat  patch,  widely  tipped  with  yellow  and  in  part  replaced  by  yellow;  sides 
less  heavily  streaked. 

Young  3,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  with  less  black  above  on 
throat  and  on  sides;  cheek-band  more  olive. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  crown  olive-green  spotted 
with  black,  little  or  no  black  in  back;  less  white  in  tail,  the  outer  web  of  only 
the  outer  feather  with  white;  wing-bars  narrower,  cheeks  more  olive;  throat 
and  breast  obscurely  marked  with  black  which  appears  more  clearly  on  the 
sides  of  the  breast,  belly  white. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d1  in  Spring  but  darker  above,  black  mark- 
ings less  evident,  sides  tinged  with  brownish. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall  but  with  less  black  on  head  and 
throat. 

Nestling. — Above  brown,  a  broad  buffy  superciliary  line;  breast  evidently 
brownish,  belly  white  but  molt  too  far  progressed  to  permit  of  complete  descrip- 
tion. 

General  Distribution. — Western  North  America,  north  to  Alaska, 
east  to  Colorado. 

Summer  Range. — From  mountains  of  southern  Calif ornia(  ?)  and 
Oregon  north  to  Sitka,  Alaska,  and  the  upper  Yukon  Valley;  east  to 
Idaho  (Fort  Sherman)  and  western  Colorado;  in  migration  it  ranges  to 
the  eastern  foothills  of  Colorado  (Loveland)  and  to  western  Texas, 
(San  Angelo)  ;  accidental  in  Pennsylvania  (Coatesville,  May  12,  1868). 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  and  Guatemala;  a  few  sometimes  as  far 
north  as  southern  California. 

Spring  Migration. — Migrants  from  Mexico  begin  to  enter  Cali- 
fornia April  14  to  20.  The  earliest  noted  in  1888  at  Chilliwack,  B.  C, 
was  on  May  19,  but  the  usual  date  of  arrival  is  probably  several  days 
earlier,  for  the  average  date  of  the  first  birds  seen  during  five  years  at 
Columbia  Falls,  Mont.,  is  May  7,  varying  from  May  4,  1897  to  May 
n,  1896.  First  arrivals  have  been  noted  on  April  9,  in  the  Huachuca 
Mountains  of  Arizona;  Loveland,  Colo.,  May  n,  1889  and  at  Great 
Falls,  Mont.,  May  28,  1890. 

Fall  Migration. — None  of  Townsend's  Warblers  was  seen  at 
Columbia  Falls,  Mont.,  after  August  17,  1895,  nor  at  Chilliwack,  B.  C., 
later  than  September  12,  1888. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts.— Very  little  information  concerning  the 
habits  of  this  bird  appears  to  have  been  recorded.  At  Fort  Sherman, 
Idaho,  where  it  evidently  nests,  Merrill  found  it  haunting  the  tops  of 
large  firs,  flitting  restlessly  from  tree  to  tree  at  a  height  which  made 
identification  difficult.  At  Glacier,  Alaska,  Bishop8  states  that  "it  was 
tolerably  common  in  the  dense  woods  of  spruce  and  fir  and  unquestion- 
ably nesting;  altogether  we  noticed  about  twenty  individuals  during 


156  TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER 

our  stay."  Macoun4,  quoting  Spreaclborough,  says  they  are  common 
on  Vancouver  Island  and  nest  in  the  Douglas  firs.  Woodcock5,  quoting 
Anthony,  says  that  at  Beaverton,  Oregon,  Townsend's  Warbler  is  not 
at  all  rare  in  second  growths  of  fir.  In  California,  Grinnell  states,  it 
is  a  "common  winter  visitant  to  the  Santa  Cruz  district,  and  sparingly 
elsewhere  west  of  the  Sierras ;  occurs  more  widely  during  migration." 
Song. — "This  usually  consists  of  five  notes — dee  dee  dec — de  dc 
all,  especially  the  first  three,  uttered  in  the  peculiar  harsh  drawl  of  D. 
virens.  Later  in  the  season  the  song  changes  somewhat  at  times." 
(Merrill2.) 

Nest  and  Eggs. — June  7,  1875,  Bendire1  took  what  he  believed  to 
be  the  nest  and  eggs  of  this  species  in  southwestern  Oregon.  It  was 
placed  among  several  willow  shoots  about  four  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  identification,  however,  was  incomplete.  Spreadborough,  as 
quoted  above,  states  that  this  Warbler  nests  in  the  Douglas  firs  on 
Vancouver  Island,  but  no  further  details  are  given. 

The  data  accompanying  a  set  of  four  eggs  in  the  collection  of 
J.  Lewis  Childs,  reads  as  follows:  June  12,  1892,  Collected  by  Walter 
Raine,  Vancouver,  B.  C.,  "on  a  branch  of  Willow  four  feet  from 
ground."  Mr.  Childs  writes :  "I  give  you  herewith  the  information 
regarding  the  nest  and  set  of  eggs  of  Townsend's  Warbler,  as  per  your 
request  of  the  I5th.  The  four  eggs  measure  respectively  .7ox.5o, 
•72X.52,  .7ox.5i,  .68x.5i.  Color,  light  ashen  gray,  heavily  blotched, 
specked  and  marbled  dull  rufous-brown;  eggs  showing  wide  variation 
in  extent  of  color,  all  having  more  or  less  of  it  on  all  parts  with  a 
predominance  at  the  large  end.  The  color  on  the  large  end  of  one 
egg  is  almost  solid,  on  another  very  sparse.  The  eggs  may  be  said  to 
be  fairly  distinct,  not  resembling  those  of  any  other  species  of  Warbler, 
and  none,  excepting  possibly  Cape  May  and  Hermit,  show  so  much 
color.  Nest  neat  and  firm,  made  entirely  of  fine  grasses  (no  hair  of 
any  sort)  with  some  downy  substance  and  vegetable  fiber  on  the  out- 
side. Inside  measurement,  width  2  inches,  depth,  I  1-2  inches."  (Figs. 
97-99,  Childs  Coll.) 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  C.  E.  BENDIRE,  Notes  on  Some  of  the  Birds  found  in  Southeastern 
Oregon,  etc.,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  1877,  114.  (2)  J.  C.  MERRILL.  Notes 
on  the  Birds  of  Fort  Sherman,  Idaho,  Auk,  XV,  1898,  19.  (3)  L.  B.  BISHOP, 
Birds  of  the  Yukon  Region,  N.  A.  Fauna,  No.  19,  rooo,  90.  (4)  J.  MACOUW. 
Cat.  of  Canadian  Birds,  III,  631.  (5)  A.  R.  WOODCOCK,  Birds  of  Oregon,  87. 
(6)  J.  GRINNELL,  Check -List  of  California  Birds,  65. 


BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER  157 

BLACK-THROATED  GREEN   WARBLER 

DENDROICA  VIRENS  (Gmel.)    Plate  XIV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  yellow  cheeks,  bright  olive-green  back  with 
few  or  no  black  streaks,  the  largely  white  outer  web  of  the  outer  tail-feather; 
the  black  throat  of  the  adult  male  and  yellow  or  yellowish  throat  of  the  female 
and  young  are  the  distinguishing  marks  of  this  species.  Length  (skin),  4.40; 
wing,  2.45;  tail,  1.95;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  c?,  Spring. — Above  bright  olive-green  the  back  often  with  more  or 
less  concealed  black  spots ;  forehead  yellowish,  line  over  eye  and  cheeks  yellow, 
lores  and  postocular  streak  dusky;  tail  margined  with  grayish,  both  webs  of 
the  two  outer  feathers  largely  white,  third  to  fifth  feathers  with  white  at  end  of 
inner  web;  wings  margined  with  grayish,  end  half  of  median  coverts  white, 
greater  coverts  tipped  with  white  forming  two  conspicuous  bars;  throat  and 
breast  black;  belly  white  usually  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow;  sides  heavily 
streaked  with  black. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  black  of  throat  conspicu- 
ously tipped,  and  of  sides,  margined  with  white  or  yellowish. 

Young  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  3  in  Fall  but  back  more  rarely  with 
black,  chin  and  upper  throat  yellow,  not  black,  less  black  on  sides. 

Adult  9,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  somewhat  duller  above, 
less  white  in  tail,  in  some  specimens  outer  web  of  only  outer  tail-feathers 
white,  white  wing-bars  narrower;  chin  and  throat  yellow,  breast  black  tipped 
with  white  or  yellowish,  sides  streaked  with  black;  belly  white  usually  tinged 
with  yellow.  Resembling  young  male  in  Fall  but  duller  in  color  and  the  more 
worn  plumage  gives  the  black  of  breast  a  more  patchy  appearance. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  somewhat  brighter  in  color 
the  black  of  breast  more  evenly  and  widely  tipped  with  whitish,  the  black 
streaks  on  sides  less  evident. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall  but  duller  above,  the  breast 
dusky  yellow  with  little  or  no  black. 

Nestling. — Above  brown,  below  whitish  streaked  with  dusky,  a  brownish 
white  line  over  eye;  wings  and  tail  as  in  young. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  Athabasca;  west  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  region  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  New- 
foundland, and  west  to  northern  Alberta  and  southwestern  Alberta 
marks  the  northern  limit  of  the  range  of  this  species.  It  breeds  south 
to  Minnesota,  Wisconsin  (Jefferson  County),  Michigan  (Crawford, 
Oscoda,  and  losco  Counties),  New  York  (Oneida  County),  Massa- 
chusetts (Cambridge,  Springfield,  Martha's  Vineyard,  etc.),  north- 
western Connecticut  and,  less  commonly,  northern  Long  Island  and 
northern  New  Jersey;  south  in  the  Alleghenies,  it  breeds  through 
Pennsylvania  to  South  Carolina.  In  passing  to  its  summer  home  it 
ranges  west  to  western  Minnesota,  eastern  Nebraska  (Omaha,  Flor- 
ence, Neligh),  eastern  Kansas  (Onaga)  and  eastern  Texas;  rare  west 
of  the  heavy  forest  area  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 


158 


BLACK-THROATED    GREEN    WARBLER 


II' inter  Range. — Mexico  to  Panama;  casual  or  accidental  in  the 
West  Indies. 

Spring  Migration.-^ 


PI<ACB 

No.  ol 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Raleigh,  N.   C  

March  27 

March  22,  1898 

Asheville,  N.  C.   (near)    

April  28 

April  24,  1893 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  
Washington,  D.  C.    ... 

4 

April  1  6 
April  25 

April  10,  1893 
April  22,  1905 

New  Providence,  N.  J  

April  30 

April  23,  1891 

Englewood,   N    J 

5 

April  30 

April  25,  1901 

Beaver,   Pa.           .  . 

6 

April  30 

April  25,  1891 

Renovo,    Pa  

10 

April  26 

April  22,  1896 

Alfred    N    Y 

1C 

May      i 

April  22,  1889 

Ballston  Spa,  N    Y 

7 

May      8 

April  29,  1894 

Portland,   Conn     

6 

May      4 

April  27,  1886 

Hartford,    Conn  

7 

May      2 

April  28,  1895 

Providence    R    I 

May      3 

May      i,  1897 

Central    Massachusetts    
Southeastern    Massachusetts 

13 

12 

May      i 
May      i 

April  26,  1891 
April  25,  1897 

Northeastern    Massachusetts    
Randolph,    Vt  

16 
6 

May      i 
May      8 

April  24,  1897 
May      2,  1890 

St    Johnsbury,  Vt 

6 

May      9 

May      5,  1900 

Southern  New  Hampshire  
Southern  Maine   
Montreal    Can 

8 
4 

May      3 
May      6 
May    ii 

April  30,  1903 
May      3,  1894 
May      7,  1891 

Quebec,  Can    .   .  . 

II 

May    10 

May      6,  1900 

Central   Nova   Scotia    

4 

May     13 

May    10,  1896 

St   John    N   B 

12 

May    13 

May      8,  1895 

North  River,  P   E   I 

3 

May     17 

May    13,  1889 

Mississippi  Valley  — 

Mouth   Rio  Grande,  Texas   
San   Antonio    Texas 

7 
4 

March  22 
March  24 

March  18,  1880 
March  13,  1880 

Eubank,   Ky  

4 

April  ii 

April    9,  1894 

Chicago,    111  

12 

May      i 

April  27,  1900 

Rockford,   111 

5 

May      3 

April  28,  1889 

Oberlin.   O  
Brookville    Ind 

10 

5 

April  28 
April  29 

April  25,  1896 
April  26,  1886 

Waterloo    Ind    (near) 

9 

May      i 

April  24,  1894 

Petersburg,   Mich     

10 

May      2 

April  25,  1886 

Battle  Creek    Mich 

6 

May      3 

April  28,  1885 

Northern  Michigan 

2 

May    23 

May    20,  1809 

Southern    Ontario    

12 

May      i 

April  26,  1904 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa    Ont                         

,89 

May      6 
May     13 

May      3.  1896 
May      i,  1905 

Southeastern    Iowa    

6 

May      5 

April  30,  1895 

May      7 

April  30,  1888 

Aweme    Man 

May    13,  1808 

June  3,  1901 

BLACK-THROATED    GREEN    WARBLER 

Fall  Migration. — 


159 


PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

North  River,  P.  E   I 

September    5 

September  13,  1890 

St.  John,  N.   B    . 

6 

September  13 

September  25,  1891 

Southern  Maine   .  .  . 

7 

September  27 

October    2    1898 

Fitchburg,    Mass.    .  . 

October    9    1898 

Portland,   Conn  

October  20    1888 

Renovo,    Pa  .    . 

_ 

October  4 

October  15,  1887 

Southeastern  New  York  

g 

October  7 

October  12    1899 

Germantown,    Pa  

October  8 

October  18   1888 

Washington,  D.  C  

October  20   1890 

Raleigh    N    C 

October  8 

October  16    1893 

Ottawa    Ont 

September  27 

October    8    1887 

Chicago,    111     

September  27 

October  12    1894 

Eubank,    Ky  

October  14    1891 

New  Orleans,  La.  (near)    

October  28    1899 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Singing  freely  while  he  travels,  one 
need  not  follow  the  Black-throated  Green  to  his  northern  home  to  hear 
the  delicious,  little  lazy  drawl  which,  near  New  York,  marks  the  open- 
ing days  of  Warbler  time.  Now  we  may  find  him  almost  anywhere 
there  are  trees,  but,  arrived  on  his  nesting  ground,  he  shows  a  marked 
preference  for  conifers. 

About  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  the  Black-throated  Green  is 
among  the  most  abundant  summer  Warblers,  Brewster6  writes  that 
its  favorite  haunts  "are  extensive,  well-matured  woods  of  white  pines, 
and  rocky  pastures  growing  up  to  pitch  pines  or  to  Virginia  junipers." 

About  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  writes,  the  Black-throated 
Green  is  "a  very  common  or  abundant  summer  bird  through  all  the 
region,  high  and  low;  ranging  from  the  pine  woods  of  the  lowest 
valleys  to  the  half  open  copses  of  spruce  and  mountain  ash  along 
Monadnock's  rocky  ridge, — 2,500  to  3,169  feet.  High  upon  the  moun- 
tain, however,  it  is  less  common  than  the  Myrtle,  or  even  the  Nash- 
ville. Though  decidedly  a  forest  Warbler,  it  favors  second  growth, 
and  pasture-bordering  copses,  rather  than  the  very  heavy  timber,  and 
is  particularly  partial  to  dry  white  pine  woods.  Its  'beat'  lies  between 
the  sunlit  tops  of  middle-sized  pines,  spruce  and  other  trees,  and  their 
bottom  branches  on  the  outer  borders  of  the  groves.  The  deeply 
shaded  wood-interiors  it  seems  rather  to  avoid ;  and  it  is  a  great 
haunter,  especially  while  singing,  of  the  spindling  tops  of  fair-sized 
conifers.  Active,  restless,  but  very  tame,  it  is  a  noticeable  little  bird 
wherever  it  occurs,  particularly  in  the  clearly-marked  costume  of  the 
adult  male,  whose  almost  fleckless  yellow  cheeks  often  lead  chance 
observers  to  describe  it  as  yellow-headed."  (Thayer,  MS.") 


160  BLACK-THROATED    GREEN    WARBLER 

At  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Verdi  Burtch  says  the  Black-throated 
Green  "is  found  during  the  nesting  season  in  all  of  our  larger  gullies. 
I  have  found  twenty  or  more  nests  during  the  past  three  seasons,  and 
all  have  been  in  hemlocks.  The  birds  are  close  sitters  and  will  not 
leave  the  nest  until  one  gets  almost  close  enough  to  touch  them. 
When  flushed  from  the  nest  they  usually  drop  nearly  to  the  ground, 
then  sail  to  a  nearby  bush,  gradually  coming  back  near  one.  Usually 
they  are  quiet  but  sometimes  they  chip  a  little."  (Burtch,  MS.) 

Song. — "The  familiar  two  main  songs  of  this  common  Warbler 
are  subject  to  surprising  individual — or  rather,  idiosyncratic, — varia- 
tion. Most  of  the  individuals  in  a  region  sing  nearly  alike, — showing, 
indeed,  an  unusual  fixitude  of  song-form,  but  about  one  in  forty  does 
queer  tricks  with  his  voice.  Among  the  commonest  of  these  tricks 
is  the  introduction  into  all  or  part  of  the  song  of  a  pronounced  quaver 
or  tremulo.  But  the  phrasing  as  well  as  the  tone-quality  is  highly 
subject  to  these  occasional  vagaries.  The  song  is  sometimes  disguised 
almost  past  recognition.  Although  the  Black-throated  Green  is  pre- 
eminently a  full-voiced  Warbler,  its  voice  has  a  certain  quality  of  husk- 
iness, — like  the  Black-throated  Blue's,  but  much  less  obtrusively  notice- 
able, and  rather  enhancing  than  marring  the  quiet  sweetness  of  the 
song.  One  of  the  two  main  utterances  is  remarkable  for  its  deliberate 
and  highly-modulated  enunciation ;  the  other  not.  The  deliberate  song, 
of  five  (sometimes  six  or  eight)  notes,  is  the  one  usually  described  in 
books ;  but  here  about  Monadnock  the  other  is  at  least  as  often  uttered, 
and  in  mid-summer  is  the  commoner  of  the  two.  The  differences 
between  them  are  suggested,  though  feebly,  by  the  two  phrases :  Siveer 
sweerrr,  swi-ni  swee  (the  first  and  last  accented  notes  the  highest- 
pitched),  and  Wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi,  wer-wcee  (last  note  highest- 
pitched  as  well  as  most  emphatic).  The  first  phrase  represents,  of 
course,  the  more  highly  modulated  song.  Two  at  least  of  this  War- 
bler's call-notes  are  fairly  characteristic,  a  plainly  Dendroicine  but 
rather  loud  and  full-toned  tsip  and  a  reduplicated  smaller  chip,  often 
running  into  'chippering',  like  that  of  many  young  but  few  other  adult 
Warblers."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Miss  Paddock  presents  the  following  renderings: 


BLACK-THROATED    GREEN    WARBLER  161 

"Sometimes  the  last  note  is  omitted,  as  follows:" 

=&£" 


I 


"Below  is  a  second  distinct  song  and  the  same  bird  will  some- 
times sing  one  form  several  times  and  then  change  to  the  other.  The 
fourth  note  of  it  has  an  entirely  different  quality  from  the  other  four; 
a  harsh  buzzing  sound  as  though  the  breath  were  drawn  in." 


JUtJ 


Nesting  Site. — Coniferous  trees  are  most  frequently  chosen  by 
this  species  but  it  selects  also  an  alder  or  birch.  The  height  of  the 
site  from  the  ground  depends  largely  upon  the  nature  of  the  bird's 
haunts ;  when,  for  example,  it  lives  among  scrubby  spruces,  the  nest, 
as  might  be  expected,  is  low,  at  times  within  three  feet  of  the  ground ; 
but  under  suitable  conditions  the  nest  may  be  as  high  as  forty  feet  well 
out  on  a  horizontal  limb. 

Burtch  writes  that  at  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  he  has  found  twenty  or 
more  nests  and  all  have  been  in  hemlocks.  Two  were  in  little  rudi- 
mentary limbs  against  the  body  of  slender  trees,  the  others  were  vari- 
ously situated  on  horizontal  or  drooping  limbs  from  three  to  twelve 
feet  from  the  body  of  the  tree  and  from  ten  to  forty  feet  from  the 
ground.  A  nest  found  at  Closter,  N.  J.,  the  most  southern  sea-level 
breeding  locality  recorded,  was  placed  in  a  most  unusual  site.  It  is 
described  as  "between  the  stems  of  a  skunk  cabbage  plant  and  fastened 
to  a  catbriar  and  the  twigs  of  a  dead  bush,  and  was  about  fourteen 
inches  from  the  ground,  in  a  very  wet  part  of  the  swamp."  (Bowdish6.) 

Nest. — The  almost  woven  exterior  of  small  hemlock  twigs  appears 
to  be  characteristic  of  the  nest  of  this  species. 

"The  compact  and  deeply  cupped  nest  is  usually  composed  of  fine 
dead  hemlock  twigs  lined  with  hair  and  rootlets,  and,  sometimes, 
feathers  or  a  fine  dead  grass  and  fine  strips  of  bark,  white  birch  bark 
occasionally  being  used.  It  sometimes  has  attached  to  the  exterior 
little  bunches  of  yellowish  wooly  substance,  and  a  white  fluffy  material 
resembling  spiders'  silk."  (Burtch,  MS.} 

Eggs. — Almost  invariably  4  in  number.  Ground  color  ranges  from 
white  to  creamy  white  and  grayish  white,  rather  heavily  marked  with 
fine  specks  and  spots:  few  blotches  occur  of  cinnamon-rufous, 


162  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER 

chestnut  brown,  purplish  and  lilac-gray,  with  under  shell  markings 
of  lavender,  forming;  well-defined  wreathes  around  large  end.  Some 
eggs  are  heavily  wreathed  with  very  few  scattering  spots,  others  have 
numerous  specks  over  entire  egg.  Size;  average  .65x.5i,  extremes 
70x49,  .s8x.53.  (Figs.  74-76.) 

Nesting  Dates. — New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  2i-June  17  (Bishop)  ; 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying,  June  5-10  (Brewster)  ;  Lan- 
caster, N.  H.,  June  2  (Spaulding) ;  Bangor,  Me.,  May  3O-July  i 
(Knight)  ;  Grand  Menan,  N.  B.,  June  14  (/.  P.  N.)  ;  Ottawa  Co., 
Mich.,  May  15,  building,  (Gunn)  ;  July  11,  feeding  young,  Widmann 
(Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  JOHN  N.  CLARK,  Nesting  of  the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler  (at 
Saybrook,  Ct.),  Orn.  and  O6L,  XII,  1887,  22.  (2)  E.  A.  CAPEN,  The  Black- 
throated  Green  Warbler  at  Grand  Menan,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIII,  1888,  59.  (3) 
J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler,  Orn. 
and  O61.,  XVI,  52.  (4)  WM.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  Some  Canadian  Warblers, 
Ottawa  Naturalist,  XVII,  1903,  68.  (5)  LEWIS  M.  TERRILL,  Summer  Warblers 
in  Compton  County,  Quebec,  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XVIII,  1904,  149.  (6)  B.  S. 
BOWDISH,  Some  Breeding  Warblers  of  Demarest,  N.  J.,  Auk,  XXIII,  1906,  17. 
(7)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  341. 

GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  CHRYSOPARIA  Scl.  and  Salv.    Plate  XIV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The,  Golden-cheeked  Warbler  is  to  be  con- 
fused only  with  the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler.  Adults  of  both  sexes 
are  sufficiently  unlike  not  to  require  detailed  comparison.  Young  females  may 
be  distinguished  by  the  fact  that  in  chrysoparia  the  belly  is  white  while  in 
virens  it  is  tinged  with  yellow.  Length  (skin),  4.60;  wing,  2.50;  tail,  2.10; 
bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Median  frontal  stripe  yellow,  rest  of  upperparts  shining 
jet  black  without  olive  markings;  tail  blackish  two  outer  feathers  largely  white 
on  inner  web  apically,  and  on  outer  web,  basally,  third  feather  with  white 
on  inner  web  only,  less  in  extent;  wings  edged  with  grayish  the  median  coverts 
broadly,  the  greater  coverts  more  narrowly  tipped  with  white;  cheeks  and 
line  over  eye  yellow;  a  blackish  line  through  eye  from  bill  to  nape;  throat 
and  upper  breast  black;  sides  heavily  streaked  with  black,  rest  of  underparts 
white. 

Adult  £  Fall. — Not  seen,  doubtless  not  materially  different  from  adult  d1  in 
Spring. 

Young  <?,  Fall. — Resembles  adult  $  in  Spring  but  is  more  heavily  streaked 
above,  the  yellow  of  the  sides  of  the  head  is  brighter  and  more  extended,  the 
throat  and  upper  breast  are  black  tipped  with  yellow  or  whitish. 

Young  &,  Spring. — Similar  to  young  d"  in  Fall  but  tips  on  black  of  throat 
and  sides  smaller  or  absent;  upperparts  with  narrower  greenish  edgings. 


PLATE  XIV 


t.     BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 

3.  BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER,  YOUNG  FEMALE. 

(ONE-HALF  N 


4.  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

5.  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 

6.  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER,  YOUNG  FEMALE. 


.?* 


GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER  163 

Between  this  plumage  in  which  the  back  is  streaked  with  olive-green  and  the 
black  of  throat  or  breast  tipped  with  yellowish  or  whitish  and  that  in  which 
the  back  and  breast  are  solidly  jet  black,  there  is,  in  Spring  specimens,  every 
degree  of  intergradation,  probably  in  part  due  to  individual  variation,  but  it 
seems  unlikely  that  the  jet  black  back  is  acquired  before  the  first  post-breeding 
molt. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Above  olive-green,  both  crown  and  back  streaked  with 
black;  a  partly  concealed  median  frontal  streak;  a  broad  yellow  line  from 
bill  over  eye;  cheeks  and  sides  of  neck  yellow,  a  dusky  transocular  streak  which 
sometimes  extends  backward  and  upward  to  the  nape;  tail  with  less  white  than 
in  c?>  wings  as  in  <$  but  grayer;  chin  and  throat  yellow  with  more  or  less 
blackish  intermixed;  upper  breast  black  more  or  less  tipped  or  mottled  with 
whitish  extending  into  black  streaks  on  the  sides;  lower  breast  and  belly  white. 
Like  young  d1  in  Fall  but  with  less  black  above  and  on  throat. 

Adult  ?,  Fall— Not  seen. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Spring  but  with  few  or  no  streaks 
above,  the  yellow  of  the  sides  of  the  head  duller  and  more  restricted ;  the  throat 
white  with  little  or  no  yellow ;  the  breast  dusky,  the  feathers  basally  more  or 
less  blackish ;  sides  less  heavily  streaked  with  black  and  with  a  brownish  wash. 
Resembles  Black-throated  Green  $  in  Fall,  but  lacks  yellow  wash  below. 

Nestling. — Above  dusky  brownish  gray,  a  faintly  suggested  grayish  super- 
ciliary line;  below  grayish  the  throat  and  breast  grayer,  the  sides  and  belly 
whiter,  the  former  obscurely  streaked  with  dusky,  wing-coverts  brownish  gray 
narrowly  tipped  with  whitish. 

General  Distribution. — Central  Texas  southward. 

Summer  Range. — South  Central  Texas.  (See  Attwater's  remarks 
beyond.) 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 

Spring  Migration. — Its  arrival  near  San  Antonio,  Texas,  was 
noted  March  13,  1895;  March  10,  1896;  March  9,  1897;  March  13, 
1898;  March  14,  1900;  March  16,  1903;  March  15,  1904;  March  16, 
1905;  average  March  13. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  limited  range  of  the  Golden- 
cheeked  Warbler  has  given  few  ornithologists  the  privilege  of  study- 
ing it.  Mr.  H.  P.  Attwater,  of  Texas,  when  living  at  San  Antonio, 
near  this  bird's  summer  home,  took  advantage  of  this  opportunity  to 
study  its  habits  with  such  satisfactory  results  that,  thanks  to  his  efforts, 
we  have  a  more  complete  biography  of  this  bird  than  of  many  com- 
moner, more  widely  distributed  species.  The  following  observations 
were  prepared  by  Mr.  Attwater  for  use  in  the  present  connection : 

"The  summer  home  of  the  Golden-cheeked  Warbler  in  the  United 
States  is  confined  to  certain  portions  of  the  counties  in  south-central 
Texas,  embraced  in  the  timbered  parts  of  the  'Edwards  Plateau' 
region.  Throughout  this  region  numerous  valleys  and  deep  canons, 


104  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER 

with  steep,  rocky  sides,  have  been  cut  by  erosion,  leaving  peaks  and 
terraced  hills,  intersected  with  ravines,  gorges  and  denies,  presenting 
wild  picturesque  mountainous  scenery. 

"The  Golden-cheek  is  not  a  bird  of  the  forest,  being  seldom  met 
with  in  the  tall  timbered  areas  in  the  wider  valleys  along  the  rivers, 
or  in  the  tall  trees  which  fringe  the  streams  in  the  canons;  but  its 
favorite  haunts  are  among  the  smaller  growth  of  trees,  on  the  rough 
wooded  hillsides,  and  which  covers  the  slopes  and  'points'  leading  up 
from  the  canons,  and  the  boulder  strewn  ridges  or  'divides'  which 
separate  the  heads  of  the  creeks.  The  trees  which  compose  this  growth 
consist  chiefly  of  mountain  cedar  (juniper),  Spanish  or  mountain  oak, 
black  oak,  and  live  oak  on  the  higher  ground,  and  live  oak  and  Spanish 
oak  clumps  or  thickets  on  the  lower  flats  among  the  foothills,  inter- 
spersed in  some  localities  with  dwarf  walnut,  pecan  and  hackberry. 
All  these  trees  grow  on  an  average  from  10  to  20  feet  high,  the  cedar 
often  forming  almost  impenetrable  'brakes'.  Whatever  space  remains 
among  the  oaks  and  cedars  is  generally  covered  with  shin  oak  brush, 
which  is  a  characteristic  feature  of  the  region.  The  cedar  or  juniper 
appears  to  possess  some  peculiar  attraction  for  this  bird  for  they  are 
seldom  found  at  any  great  distance  from  cedar  localities,  and  they 
seem  to  divide  the  greater  part  of  their  time  between  the  cedars  an4 
Spanish  oaks,  searching  for  insects,  with  occasional  visits  to  other 
oaks,  walnuts,  etc.,  but  seldom  descending  as  low  as  the  shin  oak 
brush,  which  averages  four  to  five  feet.  It  is  quite  probable  that 
future  observations  will  show,  that  some  favorite  insect  food  which 
comprises  a  portion  of  their  'bill  of  fare',  is  found  among  the  cedar 
foliage. 

"The  song  of  the  male  is  the  first  unmistakable  notification  of  its 
arrival  and  within  a  few  days  it  is  quite  common  and  the  females  are 
also  observed.  In  the  localities  described  the  Golden-cheeked  Warbler 
is  by  no  means  a  rare  bird,  and  it  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  of  the 
few  Warblers  which  breed  in  the  same  region.  In  the  shaded  and 
watered  canons  a  few  Kentuckys  and  Parulas  are  always  found  nest- 
ing, and  occasionally  a  Sycamore  and  Black  and  White  Warbler,  but 
they  are  all  rare  breeding  birds,  compared  with  the  Golden-cheek. 

"Like  most  of  the  same  sex  of  other  Warblers  the  female  of  this 
species  is  very  shy,  and  seldom  noticed  except  when  an  intruder 
disturbs  the  nest  or  when  feeding  the  young  after  leaving  it.  but  the 
male  Golden-cheeked  Warbler  is  by  no  means  a  shy  bird.  He  keeps 
continually  flying  from  tree  to  tree  in  search  of  insects,  and  on  fine 
days  uttering  his  song  at  short  intervals  from  early  dawn  until  after 


GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER  165 

sundown,  and  before  nest  building  begins  shows  little  alarm  upon 
being  approached.  I  have  stood  under  a  tree  a  number  of  times  within 
five  or  six  feet  of  a  wandering  male  Golden-cheek,  which  appeared 
as  pleased  and  interested  in  watching  me  as  /  was  in  observing  him. 
Seemingly  he  was  desirous  of  assisting  me  to  describe  his  song  in 
my  note-book,  by  very  obligingly  repeating  it  frequently  for  my  special 
benefit. 

"The  young  birds  out  of  the  nest,  which  are  being  fed  by  the 
parents  late  in  April  and  early  in  May,  are  from  early  nests  which 
have  escaped  destruction  by  'northers'  on  account  of  their  sheltered 
positions  and  situations,  and  it  is  possible  that  then  another  nest  is 
built  and  a  second  brood  reared.  Nests  with  fresh  eggs  are  seldom 
found  after  the  middle  of  May.  During  June  the  family  groups  wan- 
der about  together,  chiefly  in  the  canons  and  along  the  lower  hillsides, 
keeping  together  till  the  young  are  old  enough  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves. While  being  fed  by  the  parents  the  'twittering'  of  the  young 
birds  is  continually  heard,  with  the  cautious  'tick,  tick'  alarm  notes 
of  the  female  when  enemies  approach.  Early  in  July  they  begin  to 
scatter,  as  most  of  the  young  birds  are  then  able  to  shift  for  them- 
selves. By  the  middle  of  July  most  of  the  old  males  have  stopped 
singing,  and  by  the  end  of  July  old  and  young  have  disappeared  from 
their  usual  haunts.  I  have  noticed  a  few  stragglers  during  the  first 
two  weeks  in  August,  and  all  probably  leave  before  September  first. 

Song. — "It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  Golden-cheek's  song 
with  any  real  satisfaction.  It  varies  somewhat,  being  uttered  much 
more  rapidly  by  some  individuals  than  by  others.  At  a  distance  only 
the  louder  parts  are  heard,  so  that  it  sounds  somewhat  different  than 
when  heard  at  close  quarters.  The  hurried  song  might  be  given 
as  tweah,  tweah,  twee-sy,  with  some  individuals  introducing  an  extra 
note  or  two,  and  the  slower  or  more  deliberate  style  twee-ah,  eseah, 
eachy.  After  the  young  leave  the  nests  the  males  gradually  stop  sing- 
ing, and  at  this  period  sometimes  only  use  a  part  of  the  regular  song. 

Nesting  Site. — "Of  over  fifty  nests  of  this  bird  which  I  have 
examined,  most  of  them  were  securely  placed  in  perpendicular  forks  of 
the  main  limbs  of  cedar  trees,  about  two-thirds  up  in  the  tree ;  average 
fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  My  highest  record  is  twenty-one  feet, 
?md  lowest  six  feet.  I  have  also  found  them  in  similar  positions 
in  small  black  oak,  mountain  oak,  walnut  and  pecan  trees.  The 
majority  of  nests  are  undoubtedly  built  in  cedar  trees,  and  resemble 
the  limbs  on  which  they  are  placed,  on  account  of  cedar  bark  being 
chiefly  used  for  the  outsides  of  the  nests.  The  nests  were  all  care- 


166  GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER 

fully  fixed,  in  forks  or  crotches,  with  very  substantial  foundations  of 
nest  material,  and  are  all  very  similar  in  appearance.  The  favorite  nest- 
ing haunts  are  isolated  patches  or  clumps  of  scrubby  cedars,  with  scant 
foliage,  on  the  summits  of  the  scarped  canon  slopes,  and  in  the  thick 
cedar  'brakes'.  In  cedar  the  older  growth  of  trees  is  always  selected, 
and  no  attempt  at  concealment  is  made.  I  have  never  found  a  nest 
in  a  young  thrifty  cedar  with  thick  foliage. 

"The  male  is  always  to  be  heard  singing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  nest, 
and  the  old  nesting  localities,  and  occasionally  the  same  tree  is  selected 
apparently  and  returned  to  one  year  after  another. 

Nest. — "The  outside  of  the  nest  is  chiefly  cedar  bark  strips,  with 
a  few  weed  stalk  fibers,  woven  with  spider  webs  and  cocoons,  lined 
wilh  fine  grass-tops,  horse  hair,  goat  hair  and  feathers,  those  of  the 
Quail  and  Cardinal  being  most  commonly  selected,  and  especially  the 
latter.  The  cavities  of  six  nests  measured  average  1.60  inches  across 
by  i. 80  inches  deep. 

Eggs. — "The  eggs  are  usually  3  or  4  the  latter  being  a  full  set,  my 
only  higher  record  is  finding  one  nest  which  contained  five  young. 
Occasionally  a  nest  is  found  which  also  includes  a  Cowbird's  egg.  Nest 
building  commences  very  soon  after  the  birds  arrive,  and  nests  with 
full  sets  of  fresh  eggs  are  found  about  April  15.  I  have  early  records 
of  four  eggs  hard  set  on  April  n,  1904,  and  the  young  birds  ready  to 
leave  the  nest  on  April  24.  The  cold  freezing  'spells'  and  rough 
storms,  or  'northers',  which  frequently  occur  during  the  latter  part 
of  March  and  during  April  must  often  interfere  with  nesting  arrange- 
ments, and  to  this  cause  I  attribute  the  frequent  finding  in  April  and 
early  part  of  May  of  so  many  forsaken  nests,  either  empty  or  contain- 
ing i  or  2  stale  eggs.  The  trees  having  been  thrashed  for  several 
days  at  a  time  by  rough  winds,  sometimes  accompanied  by  hail  storms, 
and  the  nests  soaked  and  more  or  less  disarranged  no  doubt  causes 
the  birds  to  desert  them. 

"The  eggs  vary  considerably  in  size,  shape  and  markings.  The 
average  for  31  eggs  now  in  my  collection,  is  .66x.5i,  the  three 
largest  eggs  measuring  .72X.5I,  .7OX.54,  and  -7IX.53,  and  the 
three  smallest  .61x49,  .62X.54,  .62X.5O.  The  eggs  are  plain  white 
with  sometimes  a  slight  gloss,  and  quite  thickly  splashed  chiefly  around 
the  large  end  with  spots,  specks,  blotches  and  occasionally  streaks,  of 
various  shades  of  dark  reddish  brown,  mixed  with  lilac  and  lavender." 
(Attwater,  MS.} 

Nesting  Dates.— Comal  Co.,  Texas,  March  10  (C.  W.  C.)-June 
27  (/.  P.  AT.). 


HERMIT  WARBLER  ^7 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  J.  P.  N [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Golden-cheeked  Warbler,  Orn. 
and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  68.  (2)  N.  C.  BROWN,  A  Reconnoissance  in  Southern 
Texas,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VII,  1882,  36.  (3)  H.  P.  ATTWATER,  List  of 
Birds  observed  in  the  Vicinity  of  San  Antonio,  Bexar  County,  Texas,  Auk, 
IX,  1892,  341. 

HERMIT  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  OCCIDENTALIS    Towns.)     Plate  XV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  c?  may  be  known  by  its  yellow  head, 
and  black  throat,  whitish,  virtually  unstreaked  sides,  while  the  latter  character, 
in  connection  with  yellow  cheeks  and  yellow  or  basally  yellow  crown  feathers, 
will  distinguish  birds  in  other  plumage.  Length  (skin),  4.60;  wing,  1.55;  tail, 
1.95;  bill,  .40.  , 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Top  and  sides  of  head  yellow,  hindhead  and  nape  with 
more  or  less  black;  back  black  margined  with  grayish;  tail  black  mar- 
gined with  gray,  both  webs  of  outer  feathers  largely  white,  inner  web  of  third 
feather  white  at  end ;  wings  margined  with  gray ;  median  coverts  broadly 
tipped  with  white  the  greater  coverts  terminally  margined  with  whitish;  throat 
black,  rest  of  underparts  soiled  white,  the  sides  rarely  with  a  few  streaks. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d1  in  Spring  but  head  with  more  black, 
back  more  widely  margined  with  olive,  throat  veiled  with  whitish,  sides  browner. 

Young  <£  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  with  black  above  largely 
replaced  by  olive-green;  sides  of  head  duskier;  throat  buffy  instead  of  black; 
sides  browner. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  with  less  yellow  on 
head,  back  olive-gray  often  without  black  streaks,  less  white  in  tail,  wing-bars 
browner,  throat  usually  yellow  bordered  posteriorly  with  black,  sometimes 
largely  whitish,  rarely  all  black,  white  below  browner. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  greener  above,  yellow  of 
head  and  streaks  in  back  (when  present)  more  obscured,  throat  markings 
more  or  less  concealed  with  buffy. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $?  in  Fall  but  upperparts  chiefly  dark, 
grayish  olive-green,  forehead  basally  yellow;  sides  of  head  and  chin  yellowish, 
rest  of  underparts  buffy  white.  Closely  resembles  young  <?  in  Fall  but  has 
less  yellow  andXfo  black  on  head  but  that  of  shaft  streaks. 

Nestling. — Above  brownish  gray;  breast  grayish,  belly  whitish  washed  with 
brownish  and  tipped  with  blackish ;  a  whitish  postocular  streak. 
General  Distribution. — Pacific  Coast  region. 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  in  the  higher  mountains  of  California 
and  north  to  southern  British  Columbia. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  and  Guatemala. 

Spring  Migration. — Enters  the  United  States  in  April  being 
reported  from  Oracle,  Arizona,  April  12,  1899,  and  the  Huachuca 
Mountains,  Arizona,  April  9,  1902.  Records  of  the  earliest  birds  seen 
in  California  are  Campo,  April  27,  1877,  and  Julian,  April  25,  1884. 


l68  HERMIT  WARBLER 

A  Hermit  Warbler  was  noted  at  Burrard  Inlet,  British   Columbia, 
April  20,  1885. 

Fall  Migration. — In  the  fall  the  species  has  been  noted  as  late  as 
September  22,  in  Arizona,  and  October  9,  in  California. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Of  this  beautiful  Warbler  as  it  is 
found  in  California  Walter  Fisher  writes:  "I  have  observed  this 
Warbler  among  dense  conifers  and  in  open  glades  of  young  black  oaks 
in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains.  But  it  is  preeminently  a  bird  of 
the  coniferous  forests  although  it  may  wander  longer  or  shorter 
distances  from  them.  The  yellow  sides  of  the  head,  sharply  con- 
trasted with  the  black  throat  and  that  with  the  white  underparts, 
form  a  combination  of  markings  which  render  confusion  of  this  species 
with  any  other  well  nigh  impossible.  The  song  is  also  different  from 
that  of  any  other  Warbler  of  the  region,  and  has  been  translated  by 
the  words  zeegle-zeegle-zeegle,  zeek.  It  is  not  loud,  yet  carries  for  a 
considerable  distance. 

"Hermit  Warblers  are  not  so  abundant  in  a  region  as  the  Calaveras 
and  Audubon  may  be,  but  sometimes  in  the  late  summer,  migrations  of 
young  take  place  at  comparatively  high  altitudes  in  the  Sierra  Nevada. 
During  these  'waves'  young  birds  are  abundant  among  Murray  pines, 
from  about  6,000  to  8,000  feet,  and  they  move  along  silently  except  for 
an  occasional  cheep,  as  they  search  among  cones  and  needles  for  their 
food."  (Fisher,  MS.) 

At  Beaverton,  Oregon,  A.  W.  Anthony  reports  this  bird  not  rare 
in  second  growth  firs ;  and  about  Tacoma,  Washington,  Bowles8 
records  it  as  a  regular  but  far  from  common  summer  resident.  It 
frequents  the  tops  of  the  giant  firs,  where  at  a  height  of  from  two  to 
three  hundred  feet  from  the  ground,  it  is  studied  with  difficulty  amid 
the  dense  vegetation.  "About  the  middle  of  July  both  young  and  old 
assemble  in  good  sized  flocks  and  frequent  the  water  holes  in  the 
smaller  growths  of  timber.  At  such  times  I  have  never  seen  them 
associating  with  any  other  kinds  of  birds." 

Song. — Barlow6  records  the  call-note  of  this  species,  as  it  was 
heard  by  him  in  the  Sierras  of  Eldorado  County,  Calif.,  as  a  weak 
tseet,  while  the  song  though  not  loud  "would  penetrate  through  the 
woods  quite  a  distance  and  very  much  resembled  tsit,  tsit,  tsit,  tsit, 
chee  chee  chee,  the  first  four  syllables  being  uttered  with  a  gradual 
and  uniform  speed,  ending  quickly  with  the  chee  chee  chee.  It  was 
quite  distinct  from  any  of  the  other  Warbler  songs,  and  wherever 
it  was  heard  the  little  musician  was  usually  traced  to  some  pine  tree 
where  he  would  be  found  nervously  hopping  about." 


HERMIT  WARBLER 


169 


Nesting  Site. — Three  nests  discovered  by  Allen  and  recorded  by 
Brewster2  were  placed  in  'pitch  pines',  from  twenty-five  to  forty  feet 
above  the  ground,  on  thick,  scraggy  limbs,  where  it  would  have  been 
impossible  to  find  them  except  by  watching  the  birds.  Beck3  found 
a  nest  in  Eldorado  County,  California,  forty  feet  from  the  ground  in 
a  slender  pine  at  the  end  of  the  limb,  and  Barlow4  records  a  nest  found 
by  Carriger  at  Fyffe,  California,  only  two-and-a-half  feet  up  in  a 
cedar  sapling ;  and  another  from  the  same  locality,  twelve  feet  up 
near  the  top  of  a  small  cedar.  Barlow5,  however,  found  a  nest  forty- 
five  feet  up  in  a  yellow  pine  near  the  end  of  the  limb. 

Nest. — Brewster2  describes  a  Blue  Canon  nest  as  "composed  of 
the  fibrous  stalks  of  herbaceous  plants,  fine  dead  twigs,  lichens  (Ever- 
nia  vulpina},  and  a  little  cotton  twine,  and  is  lined  with  the  soft  inner 
bark  of  some  coniferous  tree  and  fine  long  hairs  apparently  from  the 
tail  of  a  squirrel.  The  bright,  yellow  Evernia,  sprinkled  rather  plenti- 
fully about  the  rim,  gives  a  touch  of  color  to  the  otherwise  cold  gray 
tone  of  the  exterior  and  contrasts  agreeably  with  the  warm,  reddish 
brown  lining.  Although  the  materials  are  coarse,  and  wadded,  rather 
than  woven,  together,  the  general  effect  of  the  nest  is  neat  and  tasteful. 
It  does  not  resemble  any  other  Warbler's  nest  that  I  have  seen,  but 
rather  recalls  the  nest  of  some  Fringilline  bird,  being  perhaps,  most 
like  that  of  the  Lark  Finch.  It  measures  externally  4.50  inches  in 
width  by  2  inches  in  depth.  The  cavity  is  1.25  inches  deep  by  2.50 
inches  wide  at  the  top.  The  walls  at  the  rim  average  nearly  an  inch 
in  thickness."  Barlow5  describes  his  nest  as  "very  prettily  constructed, 
the  bottom  layer  being  of  light  grayish  weed-stems,  bleached  pine 
needles,  and  other  light  materials  held  securely  together  by  cobwebs 
and  woolly  substances.  The  nest  cavity  is  lined  with  strips  of  red 
cedar  bark  (Libocedrus}  and  the  ends,  instead  of  being  woven 
smoothly,  project  out  of  the  nest.  The  inner  lining  is  of  a  fine 
brownish  fiber^esembling  shreds  of  soap-root." 

Eggs.— Barlow5  describes  a  set  of  4  eggs  as  spotted,  chiefly  in 
wreaths  at  the  large  end,  with  varying  shades  of  lilac,  brown  and 
chestnut.  They  measure,  .66x.52,  .68x«53,  .67X.53  and  .67x.53- 

Nesting  Dates. — Blue  Canon,  Calif.,  June  2,  two  eggs  (Brervster}  ; 
Eldorado  Co.,  Calif.,  June  10  (Beck}  ;  Fyffe,  Calif.,  June  8,  four  eggs 
badly  incubated  (Barlow}  ;  Tacoma,  Wash.,  June  n,  1905 — only  nest 
found,  rather  rare  and  very  local.  June  21  female  seen  feeding  young 
recently  from  nest  (Bowles}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 
(i)   L.  BELDING,  A  Partial  List  of  the  Birds  of  Central  California,  Proc. 


170  CERULEAN  WARBLER 

U.  S.  N.  M.,  1,  1878,  405.  (2)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Discovery  of  the  Nest  and 
Eggs  of  the  Western  Warbler  (in  Blue  Canon,  Cal.),  Auk,  IV,  1887,  166. 
(3)  R.  H.  BECK,  Nesting  of  the  Hermit  Warbler  (in  Eldorado  County,  Cal.), 
Nidologist,  IV,  1897,  79-  (4)  C.  BARLOW,  Another  Chapter  on  the  Nesting  of 
Dendroica  occidentals,  and  other  Sierra  Notes,  Bull.  Cooper  Orn.  Club 
(=Condor),  I,  1899,  59.  (5)  C.  BARLOW,  Nesting  of  the  Hermit  Warbler  in 
the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  California,  Auk,  XVI,  1899,  156;  Condor,  III, 
1901,  179.  (6)  J.  H.  BOWLES,  The  Hermit  Warbler  in  Washington,  Condor, 
VIII,  1906,  40. 

CERULEAN  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  CERULEA    (Wils.)     Plate  IX 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  c?  may  be  known  by  its  bright  blue 
upperparts  and  white  underparts  with  a  breast  band;  the  $  and  young  are 
usually  tinged  with  blue  above,  the  tail  always  showing  traces  of  blue;  they 
have  two  wing-bars,  a  whitish  or  yellowish  line  over  the  eye,  and  the  under- 
parts whitish  or  pale  lemon  white.  In  this  plumage  they  are  to  be  confused 
only  with  the  young  of  Compsothlypis,  which  has  the  breast  and  back  much 
deeper  yellow,  and  no  line  above  the  eye.  Length  (skin),  4.30;  wing,  2.70;  tail, 
1.70;  bill,  40. 

Adult  <f,  Spring. — Above  grayish  cerulean,  brighter  on  the  crown,  crown 
and  back  streaked  with  black;  upper  tail-coverts  black  broadly  tipped  with 
blue;  cheeks  grayish  blue  with  sometimes  a  rather  poorly  defined  stripe  behind 
the  eye  which  rarely  reaches  forward  to  the  bill ;  tail  black  edged  with  grayish 
blue,  all  but  the  middle  feathers  with  white  patches  on  the  inner  web  near  the 
tip,  the  middle  feathers  there  margined  with  white;  wings  black  edged  with 
grayish  blue,  median  and  greater  coverts  widely  tipped  with  white  forming  two 
conspicuous  bars;  below  white,  a  bluish  black  breast  band,  sides  streaked 
with  bluish  black. 

Adult  £,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  breast-band  incomplete, 
showing  only  at  sides  of  breast.  (Only  one  specimen  examined.) 

Young  <?,  Fall. — Above  dull  bluish  gray  heavily  washed  with  bright  olive- 
green  ;  upper  tail-coverts  black,  as  in  adult  c? ;  tail  as  in  adult  c?  but  with  less 
white;  wings  edged  with  greenish  and  with  two  white  bars;  underparts  whitish 
tinged  with  yellow  and  with  a  suggestion  of  streaks  on  the  sides. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Above  grayish  blue  brighter  on  the  head,  the  back 
strongly  tinged  with  green;  a  more  or  less  distinct  whitish  or  yellowish  line 
over  the  eye ;  upper  tail-coverts  grayish  tipped  with  bluish ;  the  wing-coverts 
broadly  tipped  with  white;  underparts  whitish  or  pale  yellowish  with  some- 
times a  suggestion  of  streaks  on  the  sides.  Resembles  young  c?  in  Fall  but  is 
bluer  above  and  has  the  upper  tail-coverts  gray  instead  of  black. 

Adult  9,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  9  in  Spring  but  greener  above  and  yellow 
below  (?).  I  have  not  seen  a  Fall  female  of  which  the  age  had  been  deter- 
mined and  cannot,  therefore,  certainly  distinguish  between  specimens  of  young 
$  and  adult  $  taken  at  this  season. 

Young  °,  Fall.— See  above. 

Nestling. — "Above  uniform  brownish  gray  (deep  drab-gray),  the  pileum 
divided  longitudinally  by  a  broad  median  stripe  of  grayish  white;  sides  of  head 


PLATE  XV 


1.  HERMIT  WARBLER,  MALE.  3.  HERMIT  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 

2.  HERMIT  WARBLER,  FEMALE.  4.  TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER,  MALE. 

5.  TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 
(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


CERULEAN  WARBLER 


171 


(including  a  broad  superciliary  stripe)  and  entire  underparts  white;  a  narrow 
postocular  stripe  of  deep  drab-gray;  wings  as  in  adults,  but  edgings  greenish 
rather  than  bluish."  (Ridgw.). 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New 
York ;  west  nearly  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — Principally  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  River ;  thence 
east  to  Virginia  (Natural  Bridge),  West  Virginia  (White  Sulphur 
Springs),  Maryland  (Baltimore),  Delaware  (Choptank  River),  Penn- 
sylvania ( Williamsport,  East  Penn.),  and  central  New  York  (Auburn, 
Baldwinsville).  It  has  occurred  casually  in  New  Jersey  (Boonton, 
September  1887),  southeastern  New  York  (West  Point,  May  17,  1875; 
New  York  City,  May  5,  1886),  Connecticut  (Suffield,  June  12,  1875, 
Seymour,  May  10,  1888),  and  Rhode  Island  (Providence,  May  22, 
1878,  Pawtucket,  May  22,  1879,  Lonsdale,  May  14,  1893).  North 
of  the  Ohio  valley,  it  ranges  to  southern  Ontario  (Plover  Mills), 
southern  Michigan,  (Lansing,  Detroit),  southern  Wisconsin  (Lake 
Koshkonong,  Milwaukee,  Racine,  Two  Rivers),  and  southern  Min- 
nesota (Lanesboro)  ;  west  to  eastern  Nebraska  (Omaha),  eastern 
Kansas  (Onaga),  and  eastern  Texas  (Texarkana) ;  accidental  at 
Denver,  Colo.,  and  Rio  Mimbres,  New  Mexico.  The  southern 
limits  of  its  regular  breeding  range  are  the  mountains  of  Virginia 
and  Tennessee ;  but  it  has  been  known  to  breed  irregularly  at  Greens- 
boro, Ala.,  Franklin  and  St.  Tammany  Parishes,  La.,  and  in  the  Creek 
and  Cherokee  Nations,  Okla. 


PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Key    West,    Fla.    , 

April  1  6,  1887 

Raleigh,  N.  C  

May      8,  1893 

Washington,  D.  (^  

4 

May      8 

May      5,  1888 

Beaver,   Pa  

6 

May      i 

April  28,  1890 

Northwestern  New  York   

3 

May      7 

May      5,  1885 

Brownsville,  Texas   

April  14,  1890 

Northern  Texas 

April  19 

April  15,  1887 

New  Orleans    La 

2 

April    9 

April    8,  1898 

Eubank,   Ky     .  .  - 

April  15 

April    5,  1892 

St.   Louis,   Mo     ..       .           ... 

q 

April  17 

April  12,  1897 

Brookville,    Ind  

i 

April  27 

April  19,  1889 

Oberlin,   Ohio    

9 

May      3 

April  29,  1899 

Chicago,  111  

4 

May     14 

May     n,  1893 

Petersburg,    Mich 

10 

May      2 

April  25    1886 

Detroit,  Mich                 ... 

7 

May      5 

May      T,  1904 

Southern    Ontario    

I 

May      7 

May      3    1889 

Grinnell,    Iowa    

May      3    1888 

Lanesboro,  Minn    

May      5    1887 

Onaga,    Kans  

May      4    1896 

172  CERULEAN  WARBLER 

Winter  Range. — Western  South  America  from  Panama  to  I'cru. 
Spring   Migration. — In   migration   this   species   shuns   the   south 
Atlantic  States  and  the  West  Indies  (except  casually),  passes  through 
Central  America  east  of  Mexico,  and  enters  the  United  States  prin- 
cipally in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Fall  Migration. — The  Cerulean  Warbler  is  one  of  the  earliest  to 
start  south  and  reaches  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and  Mississippi  on  dates 
ranging,  in  different  years,  from  July  12  to  29.  The  birds  are  most 
numerous  there  early  in  August.  The  latest  migrants  have  been  noted 
at  London,  Ontario,  September  I,  1900;  Livonia,  Mich.,  September  I, 
1892;  Beaver,  Pa.,  September  14,  1889;  Berwyn,  Pa.,  September 
27,  1889;  Eubank,  Ky.,  September  14,  1887;  Chester  County,  S.  C, 
as  late  as  October  22. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Cerulean  Warbler  is  distinguished 
alike  by  its  color  and  by  its  geographical  distribution.  No  other  War- 
bler resembles  it  in  plumage,  none  has  a  similar  range.  Like  certain 
other  Mississippi  Valley  birds  it  appears  to  be  gradually  extending  its 
range  eastward  through  central  New  York  and  possibly  it  may  event- 
ually reach  the  maple  groves  of  Vermont. 

Although  locally  abundant  as  far  east  as  central  New  York  the 
bird,  true  to  its  route  of  range  extension,  migrates  southward  through 
the  Mississippi  Valley  and  along  the  Alleghenies,  being  so  rare  on  the 
Atlantic  seaboard,  except  in  Delaware,  as  to  be  considered  almost  "acci- 
dental." 

In  Mississippi,  Allison  writes,  the  Cerulean  is  "a  typical  wood 
Warbler ;  it  prefers  rich  mixed  woods,  its  metropolis  in  migration  being 
the  upland  beech  woods.  On  the  coast  it  is  common  in  woods  of  oak 
and  hickory,  but  shows  no  objection  to  pine." 

Near  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  Smith6  has  found  upwards  of  forty 
nests  in  a  season,  the  bird  frequents  sycamores.  In  the  White  Water 
Valley  of  southeastern  Indiana,  where  Butler8  considers  the  bird  to 
be  as  abundant  as  anywhere  within  its  range,  this  Warbler  is  found 
more  frequently  along  the  river  valleys  and  upon  hillsides  than  upon 
the  upland ;  they  prefer  the  more  open  woodland,  especially  that  in 
which  the  prevailing  timber  is  sugar-maple,  elm  and  linden.  They  are 
not  gregarious  and  where  found  appear  to  be  evenly  distributed. 
They  are  seldom  found  nearer  the  ground  than  twenty  feet,  ranging 
from  this  height  to  the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees.  *  *  *  When  high 
in  the  trees  they  may  be  easily  mistaken  for  Flycatchers,  and  when 
lower  down,  among  the  larger  branches,  their  habits  remind  one  of 
the  Titmouse  and  Creeper. 


CERULEAN  WARBLER  173 

About  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Verdi  Burtch  reports  the  Cerulean  as 
locally  abundant  in  mixed  growths  of  oak  and  maple  with  a  few  birch 
and  hickory.  The  female,  which,  as  usual,  incubates  unaided,  is  a 
very  close  sitter  seldom  leaving  the  nest  before  one  is  near  to  her.  On 
one  occasion,  in  spite  of  his  best  efforts  to  prevent  her,  a  bird  returned 
to  the  nest  three  or  four  times  while  he  was  examining  its  contents. 

Song. — Brewster1  compares  the  song  to  that  of  the  Parula  War- 
bler but  remarks  "that  of  the  latter  bird  has,  however,  at  least  two 
regular  variations;  in  one,  beginning  low  down,  he  rolls  his  guttural 
little  trill  quickly  and  evenly  up  the  scale,  ending,  apparently,  only 
when  he  can  get  no  higher;  in  the  other,  the  commencement  of  this 
trill  is  broken  or  divided  into  syllables,  like  zee,  zee,  zee,  ze-ee-ee-eep. 
This  latter  variation  is  the  one  used  by  D.  c&rulea,  and  I  could 
detect  little  or  no  difference  in  the  songs  of  dozens  of  individuals.  At 
best  it  is  a  modest  little  strain.  *  *  *  In  addition  to  the  song, 
they  utter  the  almost  universal  Dendroicine  lisp,  and  also,  the  char- 
acteristic tchep  of  D.  coronata,  which  I  had  previously  supposed  en- 
tirely peculiar  to  that  bird." 

"Six  different  writers  agree  in  their  descriptions  of  this  bird's 
song.  It  consists  of  two  distinct  parts,  the  first  of  several  definite 
single  syllables  with  a  comma  pause  between  each  two,  followed  by  a 
trilled  syllable  of  about  double  the  length  of  the  first  part.  There  is 
thus  a  marked  resemblance  to  Parula's  song.  The  syllables  tse,  tse, 
tse,  tse,  te-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e,  serve  to  recall  it  to  mind.  The  song  rolls  up 
the  scale  quietly  and  evenly.  The  effect  is  less  delicate  thanParula's 
song,  yet  not  more  wiry.  A  larger  song  from  a  larger  bird. 

"My  notes  indicate  that  this  Warbler  sings  from  his  arrival  in  the 
first  week  in  May  until  the  third  week  in  May,  and  again  during  the 
last  of  June  and  first  week  of  July.  I  have  never  heard  it  sing  during 
the  fall  migrations  and  find  no  record  of  a  song  period  then."  (Jones.) 
"The  Cerulean  is  an  incessant  singer.  It  nests  here  and  several 
pairs  are  always  here  through  June.  The  song  is  sweet,  but  rather 
husky,  and  has  a  soft,  wheeling,  whirring,  rolling  quality  to  it.  The 
common  song  is  of  four  notes  all  on  one  key,  the  last  ones  a  quick, 
upward,  chromatic  run,  ending  in  a  soft  burr-r-r.  May  24,  1905,  I 
heard  a  very  unusual  song.  The  form  was  like  the  Redstart's  shree- 
shree-shree,  but  the  voice  was  the  soft  one  of  the  Cerulean.  He  sang 
many  times  and  never  gave  the  upward  run."  (Farwell,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — Smith6  records  the  site  near  St  Louis  as  from 
forty  to  seventy-five  feet  up  in  sycamores,  saddled  on  a  limb  well  out 
from  the  trunk.  In  southeastern  Indiana,  Butler3  found  the  nests 


174  CERULEAN  WARBLER 

placed  "in  the  fork  of  a  limb  at  some  distance  from  the  body  (of  the 
tree)  and  at  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  feet  from  the  ground."  Nests 
found  by  Saunders7  in  the  western  peninsula  of  Ontario  were  in  bass- 
wood,  maple,  oak  or  elm  trees  at  from  thirty  to  fifty-five  feet  from 
the  ground.  In  Baltimore  County,  Maryland,  a  nest  was  found  by 
Kirkwood8  in  a  tulip  tree,  forty-eight  feet  six  inches  up  and  fifteen 
feet  out  from  the  body  of  the  tree. 

Burtch  (MS.)  writes  that  at  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  where  the  bird  is 
locally  common,  "the  nest  is  usually  placed  on  a  horizontal  branch  or 
drooping  branch  of  an  elm,  ranging  from  twenty-five  to  sixty  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  from  four,  to  fifteen,  or  eighteen  feet  from  the  body 
of  the  tree  over  an  opening.  A  nest  found  June  4,  1905,  was  in  the 
topmost  branches  of  an  elm  over  sixty  feet  up,  and  way  out  on  the 
branch.  There  was  a  nest  of  a  Red-eyed  Vireo  in  middle  of  same  tree 
and  twelve  feet  from  the  nest  of  Cerulean." 

Nest. — "The  nest  very  closely  resembles  a  typical  nest  of  Traill's 
Flycatcher,  only  smaller,  being  made  of  precisely  the  same  materials 
both  inside  and  out."  (Smith0.)  A  nest  from  Monroe  County,  N.  Y., 
is  "neatly  and  compactly  built,  consisting  externally  of  fine  dry  grasses 
of  an  ashen  tint  bound  firmly  together  with  spiders'  silk,  to  which  are 
affixed  a  few  bits  of  whitish  lichen;  it  is  lined  with  strips  of  bark 
and  fine  grasses  of  a  reddish  brown  color.  The  nest  is  gray  extern- 
ally and  brown  within."  (Allen''). 

Saunders7  describes  the  nest  as  extremely  shallow  and  "mainly 
composed  of  grasses  and  a  few  bark  fibers,  with  a  scanty  lining  of  black 
horse-hairs.  *  *  *  The  whole  is  covered  with  the  same  silvery 
gray  bark  strips  the  Redstart  uses  so  freely,  with  some  intermingling 
of  cobwebs,  both  bark  strips  and  cobwebs  having  the  appearance  of 
being  put  on  while  wet." 

Burtch  (Branchport,  N.  Y.),  writes  that  "the  nest  is  always 
saddled  on  a  fork  of  a  good-sized  limb,  much  like  that  of  a  Wood 
Pewee.  It  is  well-made  and  very  handsome,  composed,  of  fine  strips 
of  bark,  lined  with  a  fine  red  fiber,  which  may  be  very  finely  shredded 
grapevine  bark.  Sometimes  blossom  stems  or  dead  grass  are  used  for 
lining.  The  walls,  where  they  touch  the  branch,  are  very  thin,  usually 
nothing  but  the  lining.  The  nests  are  usually  profusely  covered  with 
grayish  lichens  held  in  place  with  spiders'  webs." 

Eggs. — 3  or  4,  usually  4.  Ground  color  a  pale  bluish  or  greenish 
white  spotted  and  speckled  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender  pretty  well 
over  entire  egg.  Size;  a  typical  set  of  4  measures  .6o,x.52.  7OX.52, 
.6o,x.52  and  .6o,x.52.  (Figs.  55,56.) 


BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER 


175 


Nesting  Dales.— Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  31  (C.  W.  C.}  ;  Waynes- 
burg,  Pa.,  May  24  only  record  (Jacobs}  ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May  15-June  15 
(Jones)  ;  Washtenaw  County,  May  15,  Hyde — July  15,  feeding  young, 
Covert  (Barrows)  ;  London,  Ont.,  June  n  (Saunders)  ;  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich.,  May  20  (Wood}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Some  Observations  on  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County, 
West  Virginia,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  XI,  1875,  134.  (2)  J.  A.  ALLEN, 
Nest  and  Eggs  of  the  Cerulean  Warbler,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  IV,  1879,  25. 
(3)  A.  W.  BUTLER,  The  Cerulean  Warbler  (in  Indiana),  Orn.  and  O61.,  IX, 
1884,  27.  (4)  S.  F.  RATHBUN,  The  Cerulean  Warbler  (near  Auburn,  N.  Y.), 
Orn.  and  O6L,  IX,  1884,  28.  (5)  E.  REINECKE,  Cerulean  Warbler  (near  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.),  Oologist,  IX,  1892,  264.  (6)  P.  W.  SMITH,  JR.,  Nesting  of  the 
Cerulean  Warbler  (near  St.  Louis,  Mo.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XVIII,  1893,  5.  (7) 
W.  E.  SAUNDERS,  Nesting  Habits  of  the  Cerulean  Warbler  (in  W.  Ontario), 
Auk,  XVII,  1900,  358.  (8)  F.  C.  KIRKWOOD,  The  Cerulean  Warbler  as  a 
Summer  Resident  in  Baltimore  County,  Maryland,  Auk,  XVIII,  1901,  137. 
(9)  LYNDS  JONES,  The  Cerulean  Warbler,  (in  Ohio),  Wilson  Bull.,  XVI, 
1004,  3. 

BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER 

DENDROICA   FUSCA  (Mull.)    Plate  III 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  <$  in  Spring  has  the  center  of  the 
crown,  line  over  eye,  sides  of  neck  and  breast  flaming  orange;  in  the  adult  c? 
in  Fall  and  adult  ?  in  Spring  these  parts  are  dull  orange  or  yellowish  orange, 
in  young  birds  these  areas  are  still  duller.  Birds  in  the  last-named  plumage 
may  cause  some  difficulty  in  identifying  but  the  marks  named,  in  connection 
with  a  brownish,  obscurely  streaked  back,  and  generally  white  outer  web  of  the 
basal  half  of  the  outer  tail-feather,  should  be  diagnostic.  Length  (skin),  4.60; 
wing,  2.65;  tail,  1.95;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Center  of  crown,  streak  below  eye,  line  over  eye  to  a 
patch  on  the  side  of  the  neck  orange,  ear-coverts  and  lores  black;  upperparts 
black,  the  back  streaked  with  white  which,  in  some  specimens,  is  tinged  with 
orange;  tail  black,  edged  with  grayish,  the  inner  web  of  the  two  to  four  outer 
feathers  largely  wjjiie,  the  outer  web  white  at  the  base,  the  next  feather  usually 
with  a  white  spot  near  the  tip  of  the  inner  web ;  wings  black  edged  with  sage ; 
the  median  coverts  white,  outer  greater  coverts  tipped  with  white,  the  inner 
greater  coverts  with  white  margin  or  wholly  white,  forming  a  large  white 
patch  in  the  wing;  throat  and  breast  flaming  orange  usually  deeper  than  that 
of  crown,  this  color  generally  suffusing  the  whitish  abdomen,  sides  streaked 
with  black. 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  the  orange  much  paler 
and  veiled  with  buffy  tips ;  the  black  markings  widely  bordered  with  brownish ; 
wings  with  two  white  bars,  not  forming  a  patch. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  orange  markings  less  pro- 
nounced and  still  paler,  becoming  dull  yellow ;  black  markings  less  pronounced 
and  mixed  widely  with  grayish  olive  or  olive-brown. 


176 


BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER 


Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  young  cf  in  Fall  but  orange  averaging  deeper 
in  color  and  more  evident  in  crown;  belly  whiter. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Spring  but  orange  areas  still  paler, 
crown  spot  barely  evident,  upperparts  browner,  belly  more  suffused  the  breast 
color  being  less  sharply  denned  posteriorly. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  adult  ?  in  Fall  but 
breast  averaging  paler,  in  some  specimens  nearly  white;  white  in  tail  much 
reduced,  the  base  of  the  outer  web  of  the  outer  tail-feather  rarely  fuscous  like 
the  end. 

Nestling. — Above  brown  the  back  streaked  with  black  and  margined  with 
buffy;  a  broad  buffy  white  line  from  the  eye  to  the  nape;  below  white,  the 
throat  and  breast  suffused  with  buff  and  brownish,  the  latter  with  blackish 
spots  extending  to  the  sides. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America ;  north  to  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  and  Manitoba ;  west  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — Southern  Canada  from  Cape  Breton,  through 
central  Ontario  to  Manitoba  and  south  to  Massachusetts  (Berkshire, 
Greenfield,  Holyoke,  Chester,  Winchendon,  Roxbury,  Concord,  Lexing- 
ton and  Sudbury),  northwestern  Connecticut  (probably),  New  York 
(Lewis  and  Oneida  Counties),  northern  Michigan  (Porcupine  Moun- 
tains), Wisconsin  (Jefferson  and  Manitowoc  Counties)  and  northern 
Minnesota.  In  the  Allegheny  Mountains  a  few  Blackburnian  Warblers 
breed  in  Pennsylvania  and  south  to  North  Carolina.  It.  occurs  west  to 
the  plains  of  eastern  Texas  (Boerne),  eastern  Kansas  (Leaven worth) 
and  eastern  Nebraska  (West  Point,  Omaha)  ;  accidental  in  Utah 
(Ogden,  September  1871)  and  New  Mexico  (Port  Bayard,  May). 

Winter  Range. — Central  Mexico  to  Venezuela  and  Peru ;  casual 
in  the  West  Indies. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
ytars' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast— 
Seven  Oaks    Fla 

April  10,  1002 

Atlanta    Ga     (near)    

April  17 

April    2,  1895 

Asheville,  N.  C.    (near)    
White  Sulphur  Springs,  W.  Va.  .  . 
French  Creek,   W    Va  

5 
5 

April  14 
April  22 
April  28 

April  10,  1893 
April  17,  1893 
April  23,  1891 

Washington    D    C 

5 

May      q 

April  30,  1905 

Beaver    Pa                                   

i  r 

May      4 

April  30,  1  002 

Germantown    Pa    

May      7 

April  28,  1890 

Englewood    N   J 

May     10 

May      7,  1897 

Southeastern  New  York  
Central   Connecticut         

8 

May    10 
May    10 

April  30,  1900 
May      6,  1891 

Boston,  Mass        

7 

May    10 

May      6,  1897 

Randolph    Vt 

7 

May      7 

May      2,  1800 

Southern  New  Hampshire   
Southern    Maine     

1 

May      8 
May    16 

May      3,  1902 
May     10,  1900 

Figs.  65,  66.  Blackburnian  Warbler. 
"    67,  68.   Yellow-throated  Warbler. 
"    69-71.  Black-throated  Gray  Warbler. 
"     72,  73.  Golden-cheeked  Warbler. 
"     74-76.  Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 
"    77.  78.  Kirtland's  Warbler. 


Figs.  79-81.   Pine  Warbler. 

"    82,  83.  Yellow  Palm  Warbler. 

"    84-86.   Prairie  Warbler. 

"    87,88.  Oven-bird. 

"    89-91.  Northern  Water-Thrush. 

"    92-94.  Louisiana  Water-Thrush. 


BLACKBURN  I  AN  WARBLER 


177 


Sp  ring  Migration. — ( con  tinned. ) 


PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  —  (continued} 
Montreal,   Can  

May    1  6 

May    10,  1890 

Quebec,    Can  

May    17 

May    14,  1903 

Scotch  Lake    N    B 

May    10 

May      7,  1901 

Pictou    N    S 

May    30,  1894 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans,  La  

April  14 

April    8,  1900 

Central   Mississippi    

•» 

May      8 

April  13,  1885 

St.   Louis,   Mo  

5 

May      2 

May      4,  1880 

Brookville,   Ind  

6 

May      3 

April  15,  1887 

May      "? 

April  28   looo 

Oberlin     O 

g 

»7 

May      5 

April  27,  1905 

Detroit     Mich                           

8 

May      6 

May      2,  1905 

Petersburg    Mich             

5" 

May      7 

May      4,  1895 

Southern    Ontario    

14 

May      8 

May      2,  1896 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  

Q 

May     II 

May      2,  1896 

Ottawa,  Ont    

II 

May      9 

May      I,  1905 

Southern  Wisconsin   

10 

May    15 

May      6,  1897 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

4 

May      3,  1888 

Mav    20.  1809 

Fall  Migration. — 


PIvACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Chicago     111                       

6 

August  22 

August  12,  1900 

Detroit    Mich            

August  28 

August  20,  1905 

Beaver,    Pa  

5 

September  9 

September  7,  1903 
August  23    1888 

Englewood    N   J 

August  ii    1887 

Washington    D    C 

•? 

August  23 

August  15    1886 

French   Creek    W    Va 

September  7    1890 

PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Chicago,    111 

e 

September    9 

September  22    1899 

Detroit,    Mich 

i 

September  17 

September  30    1893 

St.   Louis,   Mo  

2 

October  3 

October    5    1905 

Renovo,    Pa  

8 

September  12 

September  25    1899 

Beaver,   Pa  
French  Creek,  W.  Va  

4 
4 

September  20 
September  18 

September  23,  1899 
September  25,  1889 

Lynchburg,   Va 

October    9    1898 

Tallahassee,   Fla 

October  26    1904 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  beautiful  Warbler  is,  as  a  rule, 
sufficiently  uncommon  to  make  a  meeting  with  it  an  always  note- 
worthy experience.  At  Monadnock,  however,  Gerald  Thayer  reports 
it  to  be  "a  very  common  summer  resident.  It  is  one  of  the  four  deep- 
wood  Warblers  of  this  region,  the  other  three  being  the  Black-throated 


178  BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER 

Blue,  the  Northern  Parula  and  the  Canada.  While  all  the  other  sum- 
mer Warblers  of  Monadnock  seem  better  pleased  with  various  sorts  of 
lighter  timber,  these  four  are  commonest  in  the  small  remaining  tracts 
of  primeval  woodland,  and  in  the  heaviest  and  oldest  second  growth. 
But  despite  this  general  community  of  habit,  each  of  the  four  has 
marked  minor  idiosyncrasies.  The  Blackburnian  favors  very  big 
trees,  particularly  hemlocks,  and  spends  most  of  its  life  high  above 
the  ground.  The  Parula  is  most  at  home  in  boggy  woods,  where  the 
ground  is  covered  deep  with  sphagnum  and  the  stunted  trees  are 
veiled  in  dangling  Usnea;  the  Black-throated  Blue  haunts  the 
heavy  undergrowth  in  drier  woods;  while  the  sweet  voiced  Canada, 
— also,  and  even  more  strictly,  a  bird  of  the  deciduous  undergrowth, — 
is  partial  to  damp  hillside  woods  and  brook-meshed  swales,  but,  as  a  rule 
avoids  the  spongy  bogs  in  which  Parulas  and  pitcher-plants  most 
flourish.  But  the  preeminent  forest  Warbler  of  the  group  is  the 
Blackburnian,  the  lover  of  deep  mixed  growth  and  the  upper  branches 
of  the  biggest  conifers.  It  is  rather  a  restless  and  quick-moving 
Warbler,  though  not  shy,  and  without  any  (  ?)  very  peculiar  tricks 
of  pose  or  gesture." 

At  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Burtch  writes  that  the  Blackburnian  is 
a  rare  summer  resident  breeding  in  hemlocks  along  gullies  in  com- 
pany with  Black-throated  Green  and  Magnolia  Warblers.  In  northern 
Minnesota,  according  to  Preston,  it  favors  the  black  spruce,  singing 
from  some  high  conspicuous  perch,  or  feeding  while  ascending  from 
branch  to  branch  to  the  "cone-clad  top,  from  which  it  falls  lightly  to 
another  tree,  and  so  continues  the  search." 

Song. — "Its  voice  is  thin,  but,  unlike  the  Parula's,  exquisitely 
smooth,  in  all  the  many  variations  of  its  two  (or  more)  main  songs. 
One  of  these  two,  in  my  experience,  is  much  less  changeable  than  the 
other.  This  is  the  simpler  one,  which  may  be  syllabled  Tsiwi,  tsiwi, 
tsiwi,  tsiwi;  or  a  variation, — Sissi-rit,  sissi-fit.  sissi  vit,  sissi  vit; — 
deliberately,  almost  languidly  uttered,  in  both  cases,  with  a  fine, 
'kinglety,'  sibilant  voice-tone.  The  other  common  song,  though  it 
begins  in  much  the  same  way,  is  more  hurried  throughout,  and  ends, 
on  a  sharply-ascending,  scale,  with  a  sort  of  explosion  of  small, 
crowded  notes.  Both  utterances  vary  widely,  and  the  one  last 
described  is  about  the  most  changeable  of  all  the  Warblers'  songs  I 
know.  Even  the  tone-quality  is  not  quite  constant,  for  though  it  never, 
in  my  experience,  varies  toward  huskiness,  it  does  occasionally  range 
toward  full-voiced  richness.  Thus  I  have  heard  a  Blackburnian  that 
began  his  otherwise  normal  song  with  two  or  three  clear  notes  much 
like  those  of  the  most  full  and  smooth-voiced  performance  of  the 


BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER  I79 

American  Redstart's,  and  another  that  began  so  much  like  a  Nash- 
ville that  I  had  to  hear  him  several  times,  near  by,  to  be  convinced 
that  there  was  not  a  Nashville  chiming  in.  Sometimes,  again,  tone 
and  delivery  are  varied  toward  excessive  languidness;  and  seme 
times,  contrariwise,  toward  sharp,  wiry  'thinness'.  The  Blackburn- 
ian's  call-notes  are  small  and  scantily  peculiar; — at  least,  I  have 
never  learned  to  recognize  them  surely,  among  kindred  'chippings'." 
(Thayer,  MS.} 

Miss  Paddock  describes  the  song  as  "very  shrill  and  fine,  grow- 
ing even  more  shrill  and  wiry  as  it  rises  toward  the  end,"  and 
renders  it  as  follows: 


J.  W.  Preston  writes  that  in  northern  Minnesota  during  May  and 
early  June  the  males,  perched  upon  "a  dry  and  broken  branch  of  some 
tall,  old  hemlock"  will  sit  and  sing  for  hours.  He  describes  the  song 
as  somewhat  resembling  the  Black-throated  Green's,  but  as  "richer  and 
more  lively." 

Nesting  Site. — A  nest  found  by  A.  J.  Dayan  at  Lyon's  Falls,  N.  Y., 
was  saddled  on  a  horizontal  limb  eighty-four  feet  from  the  ground  and 
about  ten  feet  from  the  trunk.  (M 'erriam1 .)  Bowles8  describes  a  nest 
found  in  New  Hampshire,  as  placed  in  a  sugar  maple,  sixty  feet  from 
the  ground,  on  a  limb  seven  feet  from  the  body  of  the  tree.  Two  nests 
found  by  Preston2  in  Minnesota,  were  respectively  in  a  hemlock  twenty 
feet  up  and  against  the  tree,  and  in  a  black  spruce  thirty  feet  up  far 
out  on  the  tip  of  a  branch. 

Two  nests,  found  at  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  (Burtch,  MS.)  were 
placed  in  hemlocks,  one  of  them  being  thirty-five  feet  from  the  ground 
and  six  feet  from  the  tree-trunk. 

Nest. — Dayan's  nest  is  described  by  Merriam  as  "large,  substan- 
tial, and  very  compact.  It  consists  almost  entirely  of  a  thick  and 
densely  woven  mat  of  the  soft  down  of  the  cat -tail  (Typha  latifolia), 
with  seeds  attached,  and  is  lined  with  fine  lichens,  horse-hair,  arid  a 
piece  of  white  thread.  On  the  outside  is  an  irregular  covering  of  small 
twigs  and  rootlets,  with  here  and  there  a  stem  of  moss  or  a  bit  of  lichen." 
Bowles8  describes  the  nest  as  "composed  of  hemlock  twigs,  rootlets,  a 
few  pine  needles  and  bits  of  Usnea  all  woven  rather  loosely  together 
and  thinly  lined  with  horse-hair."  Preston's2  nests  had  a  light  plat- 
form of  dead  spruce  twigs  with  Usnea  interwoven,  and  lined  with  finely 


l8o  YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER 

shredded  inner  bark  of  the  basswood,  a  few  horse,  and  a  number  of 
deer's  hairs.  The  rim  is  Usnea  matted  and  twined  together.  The 
exterior  is  flecked  all  over  with  fluffs  of  cottony  spiders'  webbing. 

Durtch's  nest  is  described  by  him  as  "loosely  constructed  of  fine 
hemlock  twigs  and  a  few  pieces  of  weed-bark  lined  with  fine  red  fiber 
such  as  the  Magnolia  Warbler  and  Redstart  use.  The  nest  resembles 
that  of  the  Magnolia  Warbler  very  closely,  but  lacks  the  woolly  decora- 
tions." 

Eggs. — 4.  Grayish  white  or  bluish  white  distinctly  and  obscurely 
spotted,  speckled,  and  blotched  with  cinnamon  brown  or  olive-brown. 
Size,  average,  .68x.5o.  (Figs.  65,66.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Branchport,  N.  Y.,  May  24  (Burtch)  ;  Lyons 
Falls,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  2  (Merriam)  ;  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June 
4-15  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  June  5-June  15  (Knight)  ;  Kalamazoo 
Co.,  Mich.,  June  2,  B.  F.  Syke  (Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  C.  HART  MERRIAM,  Nest  and  Eggs  of  the  Blackburnian  Warbler,  (in 
N.  N.  Y.),  Auk,  II,  1885,  103.  (2)  J.  W.  PRESTON,  The  Blackburnian  Warbler 
at  Home,  (N.  Minn.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  34.  (3)  J.  H.  BOWLES,  Notes 
on  the  Blackburnian  Warbler,  (in  So.  N.  H.),  Oologist,  XII,  1895,  64. 

YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  DOMINICA  DOMINICA  (Linn.)    Plate  XIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — At  all  seasons  adults  and  young  may  be  known 
by  their  yellow  throat,  black  cheeks,  and  bluish  gray  or  brownish  gray  back. 
Length  (skin),  4.80;  wing,  2.60;  tail,  1.95;  bill,  .50. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Black  of  forehead  reaching  back  on  sides  of  crown  and 
sometimes  occupying  most  of  crown,  a  small  white  median  spot  on  forehead; 
line  from  above  eye  to  bill  yellow,  stripe  behind  eye  and  patch  on  sides  of  neck 
white;  back  gray  rarely  (I  have  seen  but  one  specimen)  with  a  few  black 
spots;  tail  black  margined  with  gray  the  outer  three  to  five  feathers  with  white 
patches  on  the  inner  web  at  the  end;  wings  black  margined  with  gray,  the 
greater  and  median  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white  forming  two  unusually 
conspicuous  bars;  throat  and  breast  yellow  bordered  by  black  which  extends 
in  streaks  along  the  sides;  belly  white. 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  upperparts  and  sides 
washed  with  brownish. 

Young  $,  Fall— Resembling  adult  c?  in  Fall. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  <£  in  Spring  but  with  less  black  on  the 
head,  sides  of  throat,  and  neck. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  back  and  sides  brownish. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall  but  brown  on  back  and  sides 
stronger,  belly  and  white  line  behind  eye  with  a  brownish  wash;  black  areas 
less  distinct. 


YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER  151 

Nestling. — Above  brownish  gray,  a  whitish  line  behind  eye  and  a  white 
spot  below  it;  auriculars  dusky;  below  white  obscurely  but  finely  streaked  with 
dusky. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States  east  of  the  Alle- 
ghenies ;  north  to  Maryland. 

Summer  Range. — From  northern  Florida,  east  of  the  Allegheny 
Mountains,  north  regularly  to  Virginia;  occasional  in  Maryland  and 
on  the  Choptank  River  in  southeastern  Delaware;  accidental  in  Penn- 
sylvania (Beaver,  Chester,  and  Delaware  Counties),  New  Jersey 
(Trenton,  May  29,  1860),  New  York  (Crow  Hill,  L.  I.),  Connecticut 
(Hartford  and  New  Haven),  Massachusetts  (Dedham,  November  4, 
1866).  North  in  the  interior  to  West  Virginia  (Kanawha  Co.). 

Winter  Range. — Florida — rarely  South  Carolina — the  Bahamas 
and  the  Greater  Antilles ;  casual  in  Yucatan. 

Spring  Migration. — Wintering  so  abundantly  in  southern  Florida, 
but  little  can  be  said  of  the  migration  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler 
in  the  Gulf  states.  The  northward  movement  begins  early  in  March, 
Gainesville,  Fla.,  being  reached  March  2  and  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  March 
5.  The  average  date  of  arrival  for  fifteen  years  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  is 
March  26,  earliest  March  13,  1890;  the  average  at  Asheville,  N.  C., 
for  four  years  is  April  21,  the  earliest  April  13,  1893. 

Fall  Migration. — The  Yellow-throated  Warbler  is  one  of  the  very 
earliest  fall  migrants  beginning  its  southward  movement  by  the  middle 
of  summer  (Key  West,  Fla.,  July  25)  and  reaching  Cuba  the  latter 
part  of  July.  The  last  one  noted  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  was  September, 
4,  1890;  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  September  17,  1886,  and  many  migrants 
continue  to  pass  through  Florida  during  the  whole  month  of  October. 
The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — About  the  first  of  March  a  new  voice 
is  added  to  the  swelling  chorus  of  bird  music  in  middle  Florida.  It 
is  no  lisping  lay,  heard  only  by  attentive  ears,  but  a  loud,  ringing  song 
which  stands  out  with  strongly  characterized  distinctness.  After  the 
lapse  of  twenty  years  I  well  recall  the  excitement  with  which  I  first 
heard  it  and  my  vain  efforts  to  discover  the  singer  in  the  upper 
branches  of  a  heavily  timbered,  densely  undergrown,  wet  'hammock'  of 
magnolia,  maple,  hickory,  bay  and  other  deciduous  trees. 

As  the  migration  progressed  the  bird  became  abundant  in  the 
cypresses  and  often  visited  neighboring  pines  where  it  could  be  observed 
to  better  advantage.  Even  here,  however,  it  is  by  no  means  so  readily 
observed  as  are  more  active  Warblers.  When  singing  it  remains 
in  one  position  for  many  consecutive  minutes,  and  at  all  times 
it  is  comparatively  deliberate  in  its  movements  resembling  the  Pine 
Warbler  rather  than  the  fluttering  Warblers  in  its  manner  of  feeding. 


182  YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER 

At  St.  Mary's,  Georgia,  Brevvster1  found  that  the  favorite  abode 
of  this  species  was  the  open  piney  woods.  Their  movements,  he  says, 
"are  much  slower  than  those  of  Mniotilta,  and  there  is  much  less  of 
that  crouching,  creeping  motion.  They  do,  indeed,  spend  much  of 
their  time  searching  the  larger  branches  for  food,  but  it  is  more  in  the 
manner  of  the  Pine  Warbler,  and  their  motion  is  rather  a  hopping  than 
a  creeping  one.  I  have  never  seen  them  ascend  the  trees  from  the  roots 
to  the  topmost  branches,  as  Audubon  relates,  but  I  occasionally 
observed  one  clinging  against  the  main  trunk,  for  a  moment,  to  seize  an 
insect,  as  will  the  Bluebird  and  many  of  the  Warblers.  Their  hunting- 
ground  is  for  the  most  part,  however,  among  the  higher  branches,  and 
a  considerable  part  of  their  time  is  spent  at  the  extremities  of  the  limbs, 
searching  for  food  among  the  pine  needles." 

Near  Charleston,  Wayne2  records  this  Warbler  as  a  permanent 
resident  inhabiting  mixed  woods  and  live  oaks  where  there  is  an  abun- 
dance of  Spanish  moss;  and  at  Raleigh,  where  it  is  a  summer  resident 
only,  Brimley  states  "while  it  is  more  or  less  numerous  in  large  tracts 
of  pines  and  in  all  mixed  woods  containing  large  pines,  it  cannot  be 
called  plentiful  anywhere." 

Song. — Although  I  have  long  been  familiar  with  the  song  of  this 
species  it  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1905  that  I  was  impressed  with  its 
resemblance  to  the  song  of  Seiurus  motacilla.  It  is  not  so  much  the  form 
of  the  notes,  ching-ching-ching,  chicker-cher-wee,  as  their  wild,  ring- 
ing, carrying  quality  which  recalls  the  song  of  the  Water-Thrush.  The 
bird  pauses  to  sing  at  intervals  in  its  search  for  food,  and  the  conse- 
quent frequent  change  of  place  together  with  the  ventriloquial  char- 
acter of  its  notes  makes  it  difficult  to  place  the  singer. 

The  Yellow-throat's  song  is  also  compared  with  that  of  the  Indigo 
Bunting  and  not  without  reason.  In  any  event,  it  is  not  likely  to 
escape  the  attention  of  the  unobservant  and,  in  Florida,  after  March  I, 
when  it  begins  to  sing,  it  is  one  of  the  conspicuous  songsters  of  the 
localities  it  favors. 

Nesting  Site. — A  nest  found  by  Brewster1  was  thirty-five  feet  up 
in  a  southern  pine,  set  flatly,  not  saddled,  on  a  horizontal  limb  "nearly 
midway  between  the  juncture  with  the  main  trunk  and  the  extremity 
of  the  twigs,  and  was  attached  to  the  rough  bark  by  silky  fibers." 

After  finding  thirteen  nests  at  from  twenty  to  ninety  feet  from 
the  ground  (usually  about  forty-five  feet  up  and  three  to  twelve  feet 
from  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  Brimley4  states  that  this  species  selects  for 
a  site  "a  horizontal  limb  usually,  but  not  always,  of  a  tall  thin  pine. 
Sometimes  it  builds  its  nest  where  the  limb  forks,  but  more  often  right 


YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER  183 

on  the  limb,  attached  only  to  the  limb  itself  or  else  laced  to  small  twigs 
as  well." 

A  nest  described  by  M'Laughlin3  from  Statesville,  N.  C.,  was 
similarly  placed  but  was  only  nineteen  feet  from  the  ground.  Nests 
found  by  Wayne2,  near  Charleston,  S.  C.,  however,  were  placed  in 
bunches  of  Spanish  moss  (Tillandsia)  in  live-oak  or  gum  trees  at  a 
height  of  fifteen  to  fifty  feet. 

Nest. — Brewster's1  nest  "is  composed  externally  of  a  few  short 
twigs  and  strips  of  bark  bound  together  by  Spanish  moss  (Tillandsia 
usneoides)  and  silky  down  from  plants.  The  lining  consists  of  a  few 
hair-like  filaments  of  moss  and  soft  cottony  vegetable  down.  The 
whole  structure  is  firmly  and  neatly  compacted."  Brimley*  describes 
the  nest  as  "usually  much  like  a  Pine  Warbler's  in  general  character, 
but  lacks  the  black  grapevine  bark  which  gives  the  latter  such  a  dark 
appearance,  and  is  also  usually  compact,  especially  about  the  rim.  The 
materials  of  which  it  is  composed  are  weed  stems,  strips  of  trumpet- 
vine  bark,  fine  grass  and  caterpillar  silk;  the  lining  is  of  horse-hair  or 
feathers  or  both." 

Wayne2  describes  his  nests  as  "built  of  fine  grass,  weeds,  snake- 
skins,  feathers,  and  lined  with  the  flower  of  the  moss ;  in  one  of  the 
nests  there  is  a  quantity  of  cotton." 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  very  rarely  5.  Ground  color  a  dull  greenish  gray- 
white,  in  a  large  series  the  peculiar  color  of  the  markings  seem  to  tinge 
the  ground  color;  the  markings  are  very  mixed,  numerous  under  shell 
marks,  in  the  form  of  blotches  and  specks,  of  pale  lavender  and  purplish 
gray  overlaid  with  heavier  surface  markings  of  wine-red,  umber  and 
deeper  shades  of  purplish  gray  and  blackish.  The  heaviest  markings 
are  at  the  larger  end,  which  is  sometimes  well  wreathed,  with  many 
spots  and  specks  over  rest  of  egg.  Size ;  average,  ,6()x.^2,  extremes 
measure  74X.55,  .66x.5i,  .7OX.56.  (Figs.  67,68.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Charleston,  S.  C.,  April  2 — a  second  brood  late 
in  May.  (Wayne) ;  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  April  22-May  26  (C.  W.  C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  The  Yellow-throated  Warbler  (in  Georgia),  Bull. 
Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  II,  1877,  102.  (2)  A.  T.  WAYNE,  Nesting  of  the  Yellow- 
throated  Warbler  (in  So.  Car.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  169;  XIII,  1888,  161. 
(3)  R.  B.  M'LAUGHLIN,  Nesting  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler  (in  Nor. 
Car.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  171.  (4)  C.  S.  BRIMLEY,  Nesting  of  the  Yel- 
low-throated Warbler,  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  151;  Auk, 
VII,  1800,  323- 


184  SYCAMORE  WARBLER 

SYCAMORE  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  DOMINICA  ALBILORA   Ridgw. 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Dendroica  d.  dotninica  but  bill 
smaller,  line  from  above  eye  to  bill  generally  white  or  but  slightly  tinged  with 
yellow,  never  strongly  yellow  as  in  dotninica;  white  patches  on  tail-feathers 
averaging  larger.  Wing,  2.60;  tail,  1.95;  bill,  45- 

General  Distribution. — Mississippi  Valley. 

Summer  Range. — From  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  north  to  Ohio  (Cleve- 
land, Mt.  Vernon,  Rockport),  southern  Michigan  (Detroit,  Peters- 
burg), and  southern  Wisconsin  (Racine,  Lake  Koshkonong) ;  west  to 
southeastern  Nebraska  (Nemaha  River),  and  eastern  Kansas  (Ne- 
osho  Falls)  ;  east  through  the  Alleghenies  to  western  South  Carolina. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 

Spring  Migration. — At  New  Orleans  the  Sycamore  Warbler  is 
one  of  the  earliest  spring  migrants.  Dates  of  arrival  are  March  1 1,  1894, 
March  9,  1895,  March  7,  1896,  and  March  12,  1898.  At  Helena,  Ark., 
the  first  arrivals  were  noted  on  April  14,  1895,  and  April  10,  1897;  at 
St.  Louis,  April  4,  1884.  April  6,  1885,  April  12,  1886,  April  10,  1887, 
and  April  13,  1888;  in  central  Indiana  about  the  middle  of  April;  in 
southern  Michigan  about  April  20.  A  migrant  was  noted  at  Soto  del 
Marina,  Tamaulipas,  March  i,  1902. 

Fall  Migration. — In  the  fall  the  Mississippi  Valley  form  is,  like 
the  eastern,  an  early  migrant,  being  one  of  the  first  birds  to  return 
in  autumn  to  the  Rio  Grande  of  Texas.  It  is  recorded  as  arriving 
at  Orizaba,  Mexico,  August  10;  Chiapas,  Mexico,  August  13; 
Colima,  Mexico,  in  August;  Duefias,  Guatemala,  by  the  middle  of 
August;  Bonacca  Island,  Honduras,  and  Truxillo,  on  the  mainland,  in 
September ;  and  at  San  Jose,  Costa  Rica,  October  4.  In  the  northern 
part  of  its  range  it  lingers  somewhat  later  than  the  eastern  form.  The 
last  to  pass  southward  do  not  leave  Indiana  and  Missouri  until  well 
into  October. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  slightly  differentiated  Mississippi 
Valley  form  of  the  Yellow-throated  Warbler  resembles  the  Atlantic 
Coast  bird  in  habits.  In  the  Galveston  region  of  Texas,  Nehrling 
states  that  it  is  a  rare  summer  resident  in  the  high  moss-grown  forest 
trees  of  the  river  bottoms.  Allison  writes  that  in  southern  Louisiana, 
"it  has  a  strong  liking  for  woods  shrouded  in  heavy  festoons  of  Spanish 
moss,  and,  therefore,  keeps  much  to  the  cypress  swamps;  but  it  is 
common  in  the  less  damp  woods  in  the  same  regions;  on  the  northern 
shores  of  Lake  Pontchartrain  it  spreads  slightly  from  the  cypress 
swamp  into  the  pines.  It  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  larger  trees,  and 
swampy  forest  may  be  considered  its  typical  habitat."  (Allison,  MS.} 


GRACE'S  WARBLER  185 

In  Illinois,  Ridgway1  states  "the  Sycamore  Warbler  is  a  common 
summer  resident  in  the  bottom  lands,  where,  according  to  the  writer's 
experience,  it  lives  chiefly  in  the  large  sycamore  trees  along  or  near 
water  courses,"  and  Butler2  in  Indiana  finds  it  in  similar  localities. 

Song.—  "The  call-note  is  a  rather  lively  chipping,  like  that  of  an 
agitated  Parula  Warbler,  or  perhaps  somewhat  more  like  that  of  Pine 
Warbler.  The  song  is  like  the  Indigo  Bunting's,  much  softened,  and 
and  with  a  falling  cadence  all  the  way  through ;  thus :  See-wee,  see- 
wee,  see-wee,  swee,  swee,  swee,  swee, — the  last  four  notes  uttered 
more  rapidly,  but  becoming  fainter,  until  the  last  one  is  very  indis- 
tinct." (Allison,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — "In  a  fork  far  out  on  a  high  limb,  usually  in  a 
sycamore."  (Butler2). 

Eggs. — Not  distinguishable  from  the  eggs  of  the  preceding. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  R.  RIDGWAY,  Birds  of  Illinois,  150.  (2)  A.  W.  BUTLER,  Birds  of  Indi- 
ana, 1065. 

GRACE'S  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  GRACING  GRACI/E   Baird    Plate  XIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — At  all  seasons  adults  and  young  may  be  known 
by  their  yellow  throat,  gray  auriculars,  and  bluish  gray  or  brownish  gray  back. 
The  resemblance  to  D.  dominica  is  striking  but  the  lack  of  black  in  the  cheeks 
and  its  usual  presence  in  the  back,  of  adults,  at  least,  the  yellow,  instead  of 
white  mark  below  the  eye,  etc.  are  distinguishing  marks  of  gratia.  Length 
(skin),  4.50;  wing,  2.55;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .38. 

Adult  £,  Spring. — Above  bluish  gray,  crown  with  black  spots  which  form 
a  stripe  along  its  sides,  lores  dusky,  spot  below  eye  yellow ;  broad  line  from 
bill  to  above  eye  yellow  terminating  in  white  just  behind  the  eye;  center  of 
back  usually  spotted  with  black;  tail  black  edged  with  gray;  two  outer  tail- 
feathers  largely  white  the  outer  webs  usually  white  except  at  tip  and  base, 
third  feather  spotted  with  white  on  inner  web  near  tip ;  wings  margined  with 
gray,  the  greater  and  median  coverts  tipped  with  white  forming  two  conspic- 
uous bars ;  throat  and  breast  yellow  sharply  defined  from  the  white  underparts ; 
sides  streaked  with  black. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  upperparts  washed  with 
brown,  the  black  marks  of  crown,  back,  and  sides  obscured. 

Young  d,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  cT  in  Fall  but  browner  above  and  on  sides 
and  belly,  little  or  no  black  in  back,  less  on  crown  and  sides. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  browner  above,  few  or 
no  streaks  in  back;  crown  and  sides  with  less  black;  yellow  duller. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  browner  above,  black 
markings  more  or  less  concealed  by  brownish  tips.  Not  certainly  distinguish- 
able from  adult  <$  in  Fall. 

Young  9,  Fall. — Resembling  young  <$  in  Fall. 


186  GRACE'S  WARBLER 

Nestling. — Above  dusky  grayish  brown  with  an  olive  tint;  below  grayish 
or  white  the  breast,  and  even  belly  and  sides  spotted  with  blackish;  wing- 
coverts  blackish  or  grayish,  conspicuously  tipped  with  whitish. 

General  Distribution. — Southwestern  United  States  and  north- 
western Mexico. 

Summer  Range. — Breeds  in  northern  Mexico  and  in  the  moun- 
tains of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  north  to  Colorado  (La  Plata 
County)  ;  accidental  in  north  central  Colorado  (Loveland,  April  25, 
1889),  and  in  California  (Santa  Paula,  Ventura  Co.,  May  3,  1881). 

Winter  Range. — Northern  Mexico. 

Spring  Migration. — Arrivals  have  been  noted  in  Arizona  as  fol- 
lows: Fort  Whipple,  April  24,  1865,  Pima  Co.,  April  22,  1885, 
Huachuca  Mountains,  April  27,  1902,  April  12,  1903. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — If  the  spring  or  summer  visitor  to 
the  Grand  Canon  will  explore  the  neighboring  yellow  pine  forests 
he  will  find  Grace's  Warbler  a  not  uncommon  inhabitant  of  tree-tops, 
so  high  that  no  small  amount  of  looking  will  be  required  to  com- 
plete a  satisfactory  identification. 

Discovered  by  Dr.  Coues  on  the  summit  of  Whipple's  Pass,  New 
Mexico,  July  2,  1864,  and  named  by  him  for  his  sister,  Grace's  War- 
bler is  now  known  as  a  common  summer  resident  of  the  pine  forests  of 
Arizona,  and  New  Mexico  and  southward  into  Mexico.  Its  nest  was 
not  discovered,  however,  until  1890,  when  H.  H.  Keays,  as  recorded 
by  Ladd,  found  it  breeding  in  Yavapai  Co.,  Arizona. 

Grace's  Warbler  has  several  relatives  so  near  that  they  are  doubt- 
less geographical  representatives  whose  distribution  seems  to  throw 
some  light  on  the  tropical  (particularly  West  Indian)  origin  and  sub- 
sequent northern  dispersal  of  the  Mniotiltidae.  To  the  southward  it 
is  replaced  by  the  slightly  differentiated  D.  g.  decora,  which  reaches 
Honduras,  in  the  east  Dendroica  dominica  is  its  probable  representa- 
tive, while  in  Porto  Rico  and  St.  Lucia  it  finds  surprisingly  near  allies 
in  Dendroica  adelaidce  and  Dendroica  delicata,  respectively. 

Song. — "Its  song  is  a  sweet  warble,  frequently  uttered  from  the 
lower  pine  boughs."  (M earns). 

Nesting  Site. — A  nest  found  by  H.  Keays  in  Yavapai  County, 
Arizona,  was  placed  on  a  limb  of  a  pine  sixty  feet  up.  Two  nests 
recorded  by  Howard2  were  placed  respectively  in  a  pine  and  in  a  red 
fir  at  the  extremity  of  a  limb  some  fifty  feet  up. 

Nest. — Keays'  nest  is  described  by  Ladd1  as  "very  compact ;  out- 
side diameter  3  inches  by  I  1-2  inches  high;  inside  diameter  i  3-4 
inches  by  11-4  inches  deep.  The  body  of  this  nest  is  composed  of 
horse-hair  strings  and  vegetable  fibers.  The  most  abundant  vegetable 


CHESTNUT-SIDED   WARBLER  187 

material  interwoven  consists  of  the  staminate  catkins  and  bud  scales  of 
Quercus  emoryi.  There  is  also  some  wool,  vegetable  down,  and  insect 
webbing,  in  which  there  are  entangled  the  exuviae  of  some  caterpillar. 
Attached  to  the  outside  was  a  small  staminate  cone  of  some  species  of 
Pinus.  Nest  well  lined  with  feathers  and  horse-hair." 

Eg£s- — A  set  of  three  eggs  is  described  by  Ladd1  as  "ground 
color  creamy  white,  marked  over  entire  surface,  but  more  heavily  at 
larger  end,  where  they  form  a  wreath,  with  light  umber  and  occasional 
specks  of  dark  chestnut ;  lilac  shell-markings  at  large  end  only."  Size ; 
.51x70,  .5ox.69,  .5ox.68. 

Nesting  Dates. — Yavapai  Co.,  Arizona,  June  23  (Ladd). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  S.  B.  LADD,  Description  of  Nest  and  Eggs  of  Dendroica  gracice,  Auk, 
VIII,  1891,  314.  (2)  O.  W.  HOWARD,  Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona, 
Bull.  Cooper  Orn.  Club  (=Condor),  I,  1899,  39. 

CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER 

DENDROICA   PENSYLVANICA   (Linn.)     Plate  XII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Adults  of  both  sexes  may  be  known  by  their 
chestnut  sides,  yellowish  wing-bars,  yellow  or  yellowish  crowns,  the  wholly 
different  young  by  bright  greenish  yellow  upperparts,  yellow  wing-bars,  white 
eye-ring,  grayish  cheeks  and  underparts.  Length  (skin),  4.50;  wing,  2.50;  tail, 
1.95;  bill,  .35- 

Adult  i$,  Spring. — Crown  yellow,  forehead  white;  back  greenish  yellow 
broadly  streaked  with  black,  the  nape  grayish ;  tail  black  margined  with  gray  the 
three  outer  feathers  with  white  patches  at  the  end  of  the  inner  web;  primaries 
margined  with  grayish,  inner  flight-feathers  with  yellowish,  median  coverts 
tipped,  greater  coverts  tipped  and  margined  with  yellowish ;  ear-coverts  and 
sides  of  neck  white  enclosed  by  a  black  post-ocular  stripe  and  black  patch 
below  the  eye  and  on  the  side  of  the  throat,  from  the  latter  springs  a  bright 
chestnut  stripe  which,  broadening,  passes  along  the  sides  to  the  flank,  rest  of 
underparts  white. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Above  bright  greenish  yellow  indistinctly  streaked  on  back 
and  rump ;  tail  and  wings  as  in  Spring  <£  whole  side  of  head  gray,  eye-ring 
white;  the  sides  and  flanks  chestnut,  rest  of  underparts  white. 

Young  <3,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  with  less,  or  no  chestnut 
on  sides. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  duller,  black  areas  less 
pronounced,  tail  and  wings  browner,  chestnut  stripes  less  developed. 

Adult  $,  Fall— Similar  to  young  c?  in  Fall. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Fall  but  always  without  chestnut 
on  sides. 

Nestling. — Above  brown  indistinctly  streaked  with  black;  below  pale  brown- 
ish, the  belly  white;  wings  and  tail  as  in  young,  the  coverts  tipped  with  buffy. 
General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  the  Saskatchewan ;  west  to  the  Plains. 


1 88 


CHESTNUT-SIDED   WARBLER 


Summer  Range. — One  of  the  commonest  breeding  Warblers  in 
New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  south  in  the  mountains 
to  South  Carolina.  Outside  of  the  mountains  it  breeds  south  to 
southern  New  Jersey  (Sea  Isle  City),  northern  Ohio,  Indiana  (La 
Porte  Co.),  Iowa  (Mahaska  Co.),  and  to  eastern  Nebraska  (Omaha)  ; 
casual  in  summer  in  Missouri  (St.  Louis  and  Munger),  and  southern 
Illinois  (Fox  Prairie,  Richland  Co.)  ;  accidental  in  Wyoming  (Chey- 
enne, May  23,  1889)  ;  breeds  north  to  Newfoundland,  Ontario  and  the 
Saskatchewan. 

Winter  Range. — Guatemala  to  Panama. 

Migration. — The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  passes  through  eastern 
Mexico  and  the  Gulf  States  from  northwestern  Florida  to  eastern 
Texas.  It  is  casual  in  southern  Florida  and  the  Bahamas. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PI.ACE 

No.  of 

years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring;  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Suwanee  River,  Fla    . 

April  10,  1892 

Atlanta,  Ga.   (near)    

8 

April  28 

April  17,  1896 

Asheville,  N.  C.  (near)   

3 

April  26 

April  22,  1902 

Raleigh,   N.   C. 

2 

April  28 

April  27,  1886 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  
Washington,  D.   C  

5 
5 

May      2 
May      3 

April  30,  1890 
April  24,  1905 

Beaver,   Pa.    ... 

5 

May      2 

May       I,  1902 

Renovo,  Pa  

9 

May      3 

April  30,  1901 

Southeastern  New  York  

14 

May      6 

May      2,  1899 

Portland,    Conn 

6 

May      7 

May      4,  1887 

Boston,  Mass  

14 

May      6 

May      2,  1897 

Lewiston,    Me 

R 

May    12 

May      7,  1899 

Montreal,  Can  

6 

May    17 

May    n,  1889 

Scotch  Lake,  N.  B.  .. 

6 

May    23 

May     1  8,  1897 

Halifax,  N.   S  

May    24,  1895 

Mississippi  Valley— 
Southern  Texas   

3 

April  20 

April  17,  1890 

Shell  Mound    Miss 

April  15,  1892 

St.  Louis,  Mo  

6 

May      3 

April  27,  1883 

Brookville,   Ind  

4 

May      4 

May      2,  1881 

Oberlin,    O  x  

9 

May      4 

May      2,  looo 

Chicago,  111  

6 

May      6 

May      2,  1896 

Petersburg,    Mich  

10 

May      6 

April  28,  1889 

Detroit     Mich 

9 

May      6 

April  29,  1897 

Listowel,    Ont  

13 

May      6 

May      2,  1900 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa,  Ont 

13 
18 

May    ii 
May     14 

May      8,  1889 
May      6,  1905 

Grinnell,    la  

5 

May      5 

May      i,  1887 

Lanesboro     Minn 

9 

May      9 

May      4,  1890 

Elk  River,  Minn  

7 

May    14 

May      7.  1887 

Aweme,   Man  

4 

May    20 

May     18,  1897 

NEST  AND  FIVE  EGGS  OF  THE  YELLOW  WARBLER,  WITH  CNE  EGG  OF  THE  COWBIRD. 
Photographed  by  ALBERT  MORGAN,  at  Wethcrsficld,  Conn. 


CHESTNUT-SIDED    WARBLER    AND    NEST. 
Photographed  by  Ai BERT  MORGAN,  at  Wt-thc-rsfu-Id,  Conn. 


CHESTNUT-SIDED   WARBLER 


189 


Fall  Migration. — 


PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

September    8 

September  15,  1889 

Ottawa    Ont 

4 

August  23 

September  12    1885 

Glen  Ellyn,  111 

5 

September  19 

September  26    1895 

St   John,  N    B  

September  10    1895 

Beaver,   Pa  

September  23 

October     i    1890 

Berwyn,    Pa  

4 

October    8    1891 

New  Orleans,  La.  (near)    

October  10    1896 

Tallahassee    Fla 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  regret  occasioned  by  the  decrease 
in  the  numbers  of  wood-inhabiting  birds  following  the  destruction  of 
the  forests  in  which  they  lived,  is  in  a  measure  tempered  by  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  fact  that  their  places  will  be  filled  by  other  species  The 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  for  example,  considered  by  Wilson  and  Audu- 
bon  to  be  a  rare  species,  is  now  abundant,  and  we  may  believe  that 
this  change  in  numbers  is  due  largely  to  the  development  of  those 
scrub  and  second  growths  in  which  the  bird  delights. 

In  my  own  experience,  covering  the  past  twenty-five  years,  at 
Englewood,  N.  J.,  I  have  seen  this  Warbler  become  established  as  an 
increasingly  common  summer  resident,  and  at  East  Orange,  in  the 
same  state,  Dugmore5  writes  "What  has  been  most  noticeable  about 
the  bird-life  of  this  particular  locality  is  the  rapid  and  steady  increase 
of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler."  In  the  summer  of  1897,  he  adds,  he 
did  not  observe  a  single  specimen  but  in  1900  they  had  become  com- 
paratively common. 

About  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Brewster6,  quoting  Dr.  Samuel  Cabot, 
says  that  this  species  was  very  rare  in  eastern  Massachusetts  prior 
to  1835,  but  that  it  gradually  and  steadily  increased  in  numbers  after 
that  date.  Brewster  adds  "they  nest  chiefly  on  the  edges  of  upland 
woods,  in  neglected  fields  and  pastures,  along  the  courses  of  brooks, 
and  on  country  roadsides.  In  general  terms  they  may  be  said  to 
occupy  most  of  the  country  which  the  Yellow  Warblers  avoid,  but  in 
a  few  localities  the  two  species  breed  together  in  the  same  thickets. 
Both  birds,  as  a  rule,  shun  evergreen  trees,  although  the  Chestnut- 
sided  Warbler  occasionally  frequents  white  pine  woods  in  late  sum- 
mer, especially  when  it  is  consorting  in  'mixed  flocks'  with  such  pine- 
loving  species  as  the  Chickadee  and  the  Black-throated  Green  Warbler." 

Gerald  Thayer  writes  that  the  Chestnut-sided  is  "an  abundant 
roadside  and  brush-land  Warbler  throughout  the  Monadnock  region, 
but  on  the  mountain  itself  is  not  common  above  2,000  feet,  or  there- 


190  CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER 

abouts.  Its  'beat'  lies  between  the  ground  and  the  tops  of  small 
deciduous  trees.  The  few  nests  I  have  seen  have  all  been  between  two 
and  five  feet  from  the  ground,  in  bushes.  The  adults'  peculiar  mark- 
ings and  droop-winged,  perk-tailed,  and  deep-chested  attitudes  are  too 
well  known  to  bear  dwelling  on  here.  Though  potentially  quick  mov- 
ing, the  Chestnut-side  is  by  no  means  restless,  as  Warblers  go, — 
often  spending  many  minutes  at  a  time  in  one  small  tree, — and  it  is 
one  of  the  tamest  of  the  tame."  (Thayer,  MS). 

Herrick's7  detailed  studies  of  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Chestnut- 
side  show  how  little  we  know  as  yet  of  the  more  intimate,  personal  side 
of  the  home-life  of  Warblers. 

Song. — "The  Chestnut-side,  a  full-voiced  Warbler,  has  at  least 
two  main  songs,  both  of  which,  but  particularly  the  more  liquid 
and  less  articulate  one,  are  subject  to  wide  variation.  Both  types 
of  song  are  too  liquid  to  be  well  suggested  by  English  syllables, 
except  for  the  clearly  enunciated  ending  of  one  of  them, — wee-chew. 
Twit-a-wit-a-wit-a-wit-wee-chew!  is  something  like  the  phrasing  of 
the  whole  of  this  song,  except  that  it  fails  to  express  the  soft  fluency 
of  the  first  part.  The  other  song  is  an  elaboration  of  this  initial  roll- 
ing warble,  with  the  wee-chew  left  off.  Hardly  any  two  Chestnut- 
sides  sing  this  inarticulate  song  alike,  and  almost  every  individual 
plays  noticeable  variations  on  his  own  version  of  it.  In  addition  to 
all  this,  the  Chestnut-side  is  a  mocker.  One  we  used  to  hear,  that 
regularly  began  his  wee-chew  song  with  a  loud,  long,  rattling  trill, 
almost  indistinguishable  from  the  more  fluent  song  of  the  Sparrow ; 
and  another,  that  lived  near  Catbirds,  used  several  unmistakable  notes 
of  Catbird  song.  One  of  the  Chestnut-side's  two  or  three  or  more 
small  call-notes  is  characteristic, — the  others  scantily  so,  if  at  all." 
(Thayer,  MS.} 

Miss  Paddock  writes  that  the  first  two  of  the  songs  given  below 
are  usual.  They  are  uttered  with  much  energy  and  decided  accent. 
The  last  two  songs  are  more  like  the  Redstart's  but  are  without  accent, 
and  sound  as  if  sung  with  closed  mouth. 


7?e 


CHESTNUT-SIDED   WARBLER 


IQI 


Nesting-Site. — Throughout  its  range  this  species  appears  to  nest 
in  low  bushes,  saplings  or  briers,  at  from  one  to  six,  but  usually 
about  two  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest. — The  nest  is  externally  rather  roughly  made  of  coarse 
grasses,  strippings  of  weed-stalks,  plant  fibers,  bunches  of  spiders'  web- 
bing, and  some  plant  down,  finely  and  thickly  lined  with  brown  root- 
lets, grasses  and  horse-hair. 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  usually  4,  rarely  5.  Ground  color  white  to  creamy 
white,  beautifully  marked,  in  most  cases,  with  chestnut,  varying  shades 
of  brown,  lavender,  and  purplish  brown  and  blackish,  either  in  the 
form  of  a  wreath  or  a  conglomerate  mass  of  spots  on  large  end  there 
being  very  few  scattering  spots  over  rest  of  egg.  Some  specimens 
of  the  egg  of  this  species  closely  approach  many  eggs  of  the  Yellow, 
Magnolia,  Myrtle,  and  Prairie  Warblers.  Size ;  average  .66x49 ; 
extremes  measure  .61x47,  ,7ix.5i,  .66x46  and  .69X.52.  (Figs.  57-59.) 

Nesting  Dates. — New  York  City,  May  29 — two  broods,  one  day 
from  nest.  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  23-July  22,  young 
just  out  of  nest.  (Bishop}  ;  Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying, 
May  26- June  5  (Brewster)  ;  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  May  26- June  6 
(C.  W.  C.*)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  June  4- July  4  (Knight}  ;  Listowel,  Ont, 
May  2i-June  18  (Kells)  ;  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  May  20  (Wood}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  (in  Ontario), 
Oologist,  IV,  1887,  ii ;  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XV,  1902,  225.  (2)  CHARLES  L. 
PHILLIPS,  The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  (at  Taunton,  Mass.),  Oologist,  IX,  1892, 
165.  (3)  MORRIS  GIBBS,  Nesting  Habits  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  (in 
Mich.),  Oologist,  XI,  1894,  331.  (4)  L.  M.  TERRILL,  Summer  Warblers  in 


192  BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER 

Compton  County,  Quebec,  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XVIII,  1904,  152.  (5)  A.  R. 
DUGMORE,  The  Increase  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  Bird-Lore,  IV,  1902, 
77.  (6)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  336.  (7)  F.  H. 
HERRICK,  Home  Life  of  Wild  Birds,  Rev.  Ed.,  1905,  189,  222,  236  ,240. 

BAY-BREASTED   WARBLER 

DENDROICA  CASTANEA  (Wils.)     Plate  XII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  <?  in  Spring  may  be  known  by  its 
chestnut  crown,  breast,  and  sides,  black  face,  and  buffy  spot  at  the  side  of 
the  neck;  the  adult  ?  in  Spring  by  more  or  less  chestnut  in  crown,  on  breast, 
and  sides,  a  grayish  back  streaked  with  black.  Fall  adults  show  more  or  less 
chestnut  on  the  sides  but  young  of  both  sexes  are  singularly  like  the  young  of 
Dendroica  striata,  which  see.  Length  (skin),  5.00;  wing,  2.90;  tail,  2.10;  bilJ 
.40. 

Adult  <J,  Spring. — Crown  chestnut,  forehead,  lores,  and  cheeks  black,  a  large 
buffy  space  on  the  side  of  the  neck  sometimes  spreading  to  the  nape;  back 
grayish  buff  streaked  with  black;  rump  grayer;  tail  margined  with  gray,  the 
outer  two  to  three  feathers  with  white  patches  at  the  end  of  the  inner  web; 
wings  margined  with  olive-gray;  the  greater  and  median  coverts  broadly 
tipped  with  white ;  throat,  upper  breast,  and  sides  chestnut ;  rest  of  underparts 
buffy  white. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Upperparts  olive-green  more  or  less  streaked  with  black, 
the  crown  usually  with  some  concealed  chestnut ;  tail  and  wings  as  in  Spring 
but  coverts  tinged  with  yellowish ;  underparts  whitish  the  throat  tinged  with 
yellowish,  the  breast,  belly,  and  under  tail-coverts  with  buffy;  sides  with  more 
or  less  chestnut 

Young  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  with  no  chestnut  in  crown, 
upperparts  less  streaked,  little  or  no  chestnut  on  sides ;  buff  suffusion  weaker. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  chestnut  of  crown  mixed 
with  black;  forehead  and  cheeks  gray  and  black;  chestnut  on  throat  and  sides 
much  fainter  or  appearing  in  patches  only. 

Adult  ?,  Fall.— Resembling  adult  c?  in  Fall. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Resembling  young  d1  in  Fall,  but  without  trace  of  chestnut. 

Nestling. — Above  grayish  olive,  the  head  sometimes  paler,  nearly  buffy,  back 
heavily  spotted  with  wedge-shaped  black  marks ;  below  whitish  thickly  spotted 
with  rounded  black  marks ;  median  wing-coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white  or 
buffy  white  on  both  webs,  the  greater  coverts,  on  only  the  outer  web. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America ;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  Hudson  Bay ;  west  to  a  little  beyond  the  Mississippi 
River. 

Summer    Range. — Northern    New    England ;    New    Hampshire 

(White  Mountains,  Lake  Umbagog),  Maine    (Franklin,   Penobscot, 

and  Washington  Counties),  northern  Ontario  and,  probably,  northern 

Minnesota,  north  to  Newfoundland,  Hudson  Bay  and  Saskatchewan. 

Winter  Range. — Panama  and  Colombia. 

Spring  Migration. — On  the  way  to  its  summer  home,  the  bird 


BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER 


193 


shuns  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  and  the  United  States  south  of  Virginia, 
east  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains ;  the  great  bulk  passes  north  through 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  west  to  eastern  Texas  (Corpus  Chnsti,  Port 
Bolivar),  Missouri  (Freistatt),  and  Iowa  (Grinnell)  ;  casual  or  acci- 
dental in  South  Dakota  (May  1888),  Montana  (Big  Sandy,  May  24, 
1903),  and  Alberta  (Medicine  Hat). 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Chester  County    S    C             

May    5    1888 

Washington    DC      .           

£ 

May  12 

Renovo     Pa                         

6 

May  13 

May  n    1897 

Southeastern  New  York           .... 

e 

May    8 

Mav    ?    i8oQ 

Central   Massachusetts     

9 

May  16 

May    8   iSo1; 

Southern  Maine     

6 

May  1  8 

St  John,  N.  B  1 

6 

May  21 

May  15    1889 

Montreal    Can      

May  23 

May  19   1891 

Pictou    N    S        

May  2?    180^ 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
St    Louis,   Mo     

4 

May    7 

May    3,  1883 

Morgan  Park,   111  

5 

May    5 

May    2,  1900 

•j 

May    8 

May    2    1884 

Oberlin    O 

7 

May    8 

May    4   1902 

Petersburg    Mich 

6 

May  I  1 

May  10    1893 

Southern    Ontario                    .   .    . 

12 

rJT*    ° 

May  12 

May    6    1889 

Ottawa    Ont             

16 

May  1  7 

May  ii    1886 

^weme    Man               

May  16 

Mav  ii    1800 

Fall  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Ottawa,   Ont    

•i 

September    8 

September  16,  1888 

St.  John,  N.  B  
Glen  Ellyn,  111  

7 

September  18 

September     i,  1890 
October    4,  1897 

October  19    1885 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Although  close  observation  will  reveal 
the  presence  of  Bay-breasts  during  both  the  spring  and  fall  migrations, 
they  are  generally  to  be  classed  among  the  rarer  Warblers  the  mere 
sight  of  which  is  stimulating.  Occasionally,  however,  the  weather  so 
affects  their  migration  that  they  come  en  masse  and  for  a  brief 
period  are  actually  abundant.  On  the  morning  of  May  27,  1872, 


194  BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER 

Brewster2  saw  "upwards  of  forty"  Bay-breasts  near  Cambridge,  Mass. 
Usually,  however,  he  remarks,  they  "occur  singly  and  in  dense  woods, 
especially  such  as  consist  largely  of  white  pines,  hemlocks  or  other 
coniferous  trees." 

"The  southward  flight  of  Bay-breasts,"  this  author  continue:*, 
"sometimes  begins  as  early  as  August  23  and  usually  lasts  nearly 
through  September.  At  this  season  the  birds  are  given  to  frequenting 
gray  birches  and  dense,  swampy  maple  woods  and  are  nearly  always 
found  in  company  with  Blackpoll  Warblers." 

The  Bay-breast,  Gerald  Thayer  writes,  is  "often  common  at 
Monadnock  in  the  spring  migration,  and  may  possibly  breed  here. 
Apparently  it  is  never  common  in  the  fall.  It  associates  often  with 
Blackpolls,  in  loose  bands,  which  drift  through  the  scrub-lands  and 
forest-borders  like  bands  of  Titmice.  But  the  Bay-breasts  usually 
leave  Monadnock  for  the  north  at  least  a  week  before  the  Blackpolls. 

"Bay-breasts  and  Blackpolls  alike  are  rather  big  and  rather  dusk- 
ily-adorned Warblers,  and  both  have  an  almost  vireo-like  leisureliness 
of  movement.  Adult  male  Bav-breasts  in  life  are  apt  to  look  very  dark ; 
— heavily  clouded  with  deep  brown  and  gray,  relieved  by  a  conspicu- 
ously bright,  big,  white-buff  spot  on  each  side  of  the  fore-neck. 
Females  look  much  like  female  Blackpolls,  but  are  grayer — less  green 
— and  usually  show  some  blurred  pale  chestnut  flecks  on  their  sides. 
The  call-notes  of  these  two  twin-like  species  (Bay-breast  and  Black- 
poll)  I  have  never  learned  to  tell  apart.  They  are  fine  and  sharp,  but 
sometimes  louder  than  the  average  Dendroicine  tsipping."  (Thayer 
MS.) 

About  Umbagog,  where  it  breeds,  Maynard1  found  the  Bay- 
breast  the  most  abundant  Warbler.  It  inhabited  all  the  wooded  sec- 
tions and  frequented  the  tops  of  tall  trees. 

Song. — "Heard  from  migrants  the  Bay-breast's  song  is  a  poor, 
weak,  monotonous  saw-filing  note"  (Faru'ell,  MS.) 

Widmann  records  the  full  song  at  St.  Louis,  on  September  26, 
1897. 

"In  a  grouping  based  on  songs,  the  Bay-breast  should  stand  in  a 
quintette  with  the  Blackbnrnian,  the  Blackpoll,  the  Black  and  White 
and  the  Cape  May.  These  five  heard  singing  together  in  the  same 
trees,  as  I  have  heard  them  on  the  Hudson  River,  make  'confusion 
worse  than  death'  for  any  bird-student  but  the  most  adept.  But  with 
patience  and  a  good  ear  one  can  learn  to  differentiate  them  surely. 
All  five  are  thin-voiced,  'sibilant',  singers;  but  each  has  its  own  slight, 
prevailing  peculiarity  of  tone,  in  addition  to  the  differences,  varied 


BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER 


195 


but  never  wholly  violated,  of  phrasing  and  accentuation.  The  Bay- 
breast's  singing,  in  the  spring  at  least,  is  the  most  liquid  and  inarticu- 
late of  the  lot,  and  sometimes  the  loudest.  It  varies  greatly,  from 
the  bases  of  at  least  two  and  probably  three  clearly  distinct  main 
songs.  In  one  of  these,  the  six  or  more  barely-separated  lisping  notes 
are  all  alike  in  volume,  accentuation,  tone,  and  speed.  They  are 
slightly  louder  than  the  average  Blackpoll  notes,  and  not  quite  so 
smooth  in  tone.  Another  song  begins  in  about  the  same  way,  but 
ends  with  three  or  four  clearly-separated  louder  notes,  which  have  a 
more  nearly  full-voiced  ring.  A  third,  uncommon,  song,  which  I 
have  all  but  surely  traced  to  the  Bay-breast,  is  louder  throughout, 
and  otherwise  very  different.  It  begins  with  about  ten  penetrating 
notes,  in  close-knit  couplets  like  those  of  the  Black  and  White's 
shorter  song,  and  of  much  the  same  tone,  but  louder;  and  it  ends, 
abruptly,  with  a  single,  lower-toned,  much  richer  note,  like  a  frag- 
ment of  Oven-bird  song."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Nesting  Site. — Nests  recorded  by  Maynard1  were  placed  on  the 
horizontal  branch  of  a  hemlock  fifteen  and  twenty  feet  from  the 
ground  and  five  or  six  feet  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 

Nest. — The  nest  of  the  Bay-breasted  Warbler  is  characterized 
by  large  size,  and  the  irregularity  of  outline  given  to  it  by  the  long 
coniferous  twigs  which  compose  its  exterior. 

Maynard  describes  a  nest  as  "composed  outwardly  of  fine  dead 
twigs,  from  the  larch,  among  which  are  scattered  a  little  of  the  long 
tree-moss.  It  is  very  smoothly  and  neatly  lined  with  black,  fibrous 
roots,  the  seed-stalks  of  a  species  of  ground  moss,  a  few  hairs  of 
Lepus  americana,  and  a  single  piece  of  green  moss  that  grows  in 
damp  woods." 

Eggs. — Doubtless  usually  4.  Maynard1  describes  one  of  a  set 
of  three  eggs  as  "bluish  green,  thickly  spotted  with  brown  over  the 
entire  surface,  with  a  ring  of  nearly  confluent  blotches  of  brown  and 
lilac  at  the  larger  end."  A  second  egg  is  similar  but  has  some  amber 
spots  in  the  ring  around  the  larger  end  and,  the  smaller  end  is  immac- 
ulate. The  third  egg  "is  less  spotted  than  the  others,  and  has  a  few 
brown  lines  on  the  larger  end."  These  eggs  measure  -7ix.53,  .65x.5o, 
70x.5o.  (Figs.  60,61  Childs  Coll.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Bangor,  Me.,  June  15,  one  egg,  very  rare. 
(Knight};  Listowel,  Ont,  June  9- June  14.  (Kelts}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  C.  J.  MAYNARD,  Birds  of  Coos  County,  N.  H.,  and  Oxford  County,  Me., 
Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIV,  1871,  364.  (2)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the 
Cambridge  Region,  338. 


196  BLACKPOLL  WARBLER 

BLACKPOLL  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  STRIATA  (For«t.)    PUte  II 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  o*  in  Spring  may  be  known  by  its 
black  crown,  white  cheeks,  and  gray,  black-striped  back;  the  adult  ?  in  Spring, 
by  the  grayish  olive,  black  streaked  upperparts,  white  or  yellow-tinged  under- 
parts  with  black  streaks  on  the  sides;  Fall  birds  of  all  ages  and  sexes  are 
olive-green  above,  indistinctly  streaked;  the  wing-bars  are  white;  the  under- 
parts  greenish  yellow  obscurely  streaked.  Specimens  in  this  plumage  are  curi- 
ously like  the  young  of  Dendroica  castanea  and  the  two  cannot  certainly  be  dis- 
tinguished in  nature.  The  differences  between  the  two  are  as  follows :  the  upper- 
parts  in  striata  are  duller  and  more  streaked,  the  wings  are  edged  with  a  yellow- 
green  in  place  of  gray-green ;  the  underparts  are  yellowish  instead  of  buffy  and 
are  more  or  less  streaked;  the  under  tail-coverts  are  white  instead  of  buffy; 
the  feet  and  legs  in  striata  are  paler.  Some  specimens  of  castanea,  however, 
are  to  be  distinguished  from  striata  only  by  a  slight  suffusion  of  buff  on  the 
flanks  and  under  tail-coverts.  Length  (skin),  5.00;  wing,  2.90;  tail,  2.05; 
bill,  40. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Crown  black,  back  gray,  whitish  on  the  nape,  streaked 
with  black;  tail  blackish  edged  with  gray,  two  to  three  outer  feathers  with 
white  patches  at  the  end  of  the  inner  web;  wings  edged  with  greenish,  the 
coverts  tipped  with  white  forming  two  wing-bars,  the  tertials  margined  with 
white ;  cheeks  white ;  underparts  white,  the  sides  from  base  of  bill  to  flanks, 
heavily  streaked  with  black. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Wholly  unlike  <£  in  Spring,  no  black  cap;  upperparts 
olive-green  more  or  less  streaked  with  black;  feathers  of  crown  with  black 
centers;  tail  as  in  Spring  but  slightly  browner;  wings  and  their  coverts  edged 
with  greenish,  coverts  tipped  with  white  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow; 
underparts  washed  with  yellowish  the  belly  whiter,  the  sides  with  more  or  less 
concealed  black  stripes. 

Young  o*,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  o"  in  Fall  and  not  certainly  distinguishable 
from  it  in  life;  crown  feathers  without  pronounced  black  centers,  sides  streaked 
with  dusky. 

Adult  9,  Spring. — Upperparts  grayish  olive-green  streaked  with  black  from 
bill  to  rump;  a  faint  grayish  nuchal  band;  tail  much  as  in  c£;  wings  edged 
with  greenish,  the  greater  and  median  coverts  tipped  with  white  or  yellowish 
white;  underparts  white;  breast  and  sides  often  tinged  with  yellow;  side  of 
throat  and  of  breast  lightly  streaked  with  black.  Resembles  adult  c?  in  Fall 
but  is  grayer  above  and  whiter  below,  the  black  streaks  everywhere  better 
defined. 

Adult  and  young  ?,  Fall. — Resemble  young  c?  in  Fall  and  are  not  certainly 
distinguishable  from  it,  but  average  whiter  below. 

Nestling. — Above  grayish  olive  or  olive-gray  spotted  with  black,  wedge- 
shaped  shaft-marks ;  below  whitish  with  rounded  spots ;  greater  and  median 
wing-coverts  blackish,  median  coverts  subapically  white  on  both  webs,  greater 
coverts  on  outer  web,  the  white  narrowly  tipped  with  black.  Resembles  the 
nestling  of  D.  castanea  in  conspicuous  spotting  of  the  upper,  and  underparts 
but  apparently  differs  from  it  in  the  black  tips  of  the  wing-coverts. 


BLACKPOLL  WARBLER 


197 


General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  the  limit 
of  tree  growth,  Labrador  to  Alaska ;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Summer  Range. — Principally  in  Canada,  but  a  few  nest  south  to 
northern  Maine  (Franklin  and  Washington  Counties),  the  mountains 
of  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and  New  York,  and,  probably,  to 
northern  Minnesota  (Leach  Lake).  The  southernmost  breeding  record 
is  at  Seven  Lakes,  near  Manitou,  Colorado,  at  an  altitude  of  11,000 
feet.  The  Blackpoll  occurs  sparingly  in  Colorado,  less  commonly  in 
New  Mexico  (in  migration)  and  northwest  through  Montana  to 
Yukon  and  Alaska. 

Winter  Range. — Northern  South  America  to  Ecuador,  Guiana 
and  eastern  Brazil. 

Spring  Migration. — No  Blackpoll  Warbler  seems  to  spend  the 
winter  north  of  South  America,  while  the  southernmost  breeding 
grounds  are  in  northern  New  York  and  central  Colorado.  Therefore, 
no  Blackpoll  Warbler  can  have  a  migration  route  less  than  twenty-five 
hundred  miles  in  length,  and  the  extremes  of  the  range — Alaska  and 
Brazil  are  twice  that  distance  apart.  It  is  one  of  the  very  few  War- 
blers that  migrate  directly  across  the  West  Indies  from  South  America 
to  Florida.  This  species  is  correctly  considered  one  of  the  latest 
migrating  Warblers,  and  is  seldom  seen  in  the  Gulf  states  before  the 
last  week  in  April.  It  makes  the  trip  from  Florida  to  Maine  at  twice 
the  speed  of  the  Black  and  White  Warbler,  and  the  individuals  that 
nest  in  Alaska  travel  at  an  average  speed  of  not  less  than  seventy-five 
miles  per  day. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Atlanta,  Ga.   (near)    

6 

April  25 

April  22,  1902 

Raleigh,   N.   C  

Ii 

May      2 

April  28,  1894 

Asheville,  N.  C.  (near)    

Jj 

May      5 

April  29,  1893 

Washington,  D.   C  

7 

May      6 

May      4,  1890 

Germantown,  Pa  

6 

May      8 

May      5,  1887 

Englewood    N    J 

C 

May     14 

May      6,  1000 

Southeastern  New  York   
Central    Connecticut           

14 

II 

May     15 
May    15 

May      2,  1899 
May    II,  1889 

Providence,  R.  I    

6 

May    15 

May     12,  1900 

Boston,   Mass.       

14 

May     17 

May    10,  1897 

Southern  New  Hampshire  

9 
6 

May    21 
May    23 

May     1  6,  1892 
May     16,  1901 

May    28,  1892 

Upper  Hamilton  River,  Quebec   .  . 
Placentia,  Newfoundland    

May    31 
June    i,  1890 

198 


BLACKPOLL   WARBLER 


PLACE' 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Mississippi  Volley— 
St    Louis    Mo 

7 

April  30 

April  28,  1888 

Southern    Ontario       

I 

May     17 

May    12,  1894 

Ottawa    Ont 

16 

May    21 

May     13,  1905 

Oberlin    O               

6 

May      9 

May      6,  1905 

Southern   Michigan   

6 

May     14 

May     ii,  1900 

Chicago     111 

May    13 

May      i,  1899 

Southern   Wis  

8 

May     1  6 

May     12,  1889 

Keokuk    Iowa   (near) 

May      o 

May      7,  1902 

Grinnell    Iowa   (near)       

7 

l«ajr           y 

May    10 

May      9,  1889 

Lanesboro,  Minn  

8 

May    1  6 

May      8,  1887 

5 

May     il 

May      6,  1905 

Southeastern   Nebraska   

May     1  8 

May      5,  1903 

May      7    1905 

Cheyenne    Wyo                   .         .... 

May      o 

May      8,  1888 

Great  Falls,   Mont  

iricxjr            y 

May    19 

May    1  8,  1892 

Fort  Chipewyan,  Alberta   
Fort  Providence,  Mackenzie  
Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  
Kowak.  Alaska   ., 

2 

May    23 

May    23,  1901 
May    19,  1905 
May    22 
Tune     2.  1800 

Fall  Migration. — Moving  northward  late  in  the  spring,  the  Black- 
poll  Warbler  is  almost  equally  late  on  its  return.  It  starts  south  late 
in  August  and  reaches  northern  South  America  the  first  week  in 
October. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
recor  d 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Ottawa,  Ont  

August    9,  1893 

Glen  Ellyn,  111  

7 

September    3 

August  23,  1897 

Providence    R    I 

September  18 

September  16    1900 

Croton-on-Hudson,  N.  Y  
Beaver,   Pa  

I 

September  17 
September    5 

September  12,  1888 
August  27,  1891 

Englewood,  N   J 

September    5 

August  30,  1887 

Washington,  D.   C  

September     i,  1889 

Raleigh,  N.   C.    . 

7 

October  2 

September  24 

PLACE 

No.  of 
rSd 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Great  Bear  Lake,  Mackenzie 

August  29,  1904 

Ottawa,  Ont 

September  27,  1889 

Glen  Ellyn,  111  

September  17 

September  25,  1898 

Detroit,  Mich  

II 

October    9 

October  16,  1904 

Croton-on-Hudson    N    Y 

October  12 

October  26,  1888 

Beaver,   Pa  

October  19 

October  21,  1900 

Renovo,  Pa  

6 

October  20 

October  27,  1896 

Englewood,  N.  J 

October    6 

October    8,  1885 

Washington,  D.  C  

October  20,  1889 

Raleigh,   N    C 

November    5,  1886 

Southern  Florida   

November  1  1 

November  16,  1887 

New   Providence,  Bahamas    

November  26,  1898 

BLACKPOLL  WARBLER  199 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Although  the  Blackpoll  is  by  no  means 
the  last  Warbler  to  arrive  in  the  spring  it  is  usually  the  last  of  the 
transients  to  leave  us  for  a  more  northern  summer  home,  the  length 
of  its  stay  combined  with  its  abundance,  making  its  passage  one  of 
the  most  pronounced  features  of  the  vernal  migration.  It  is  as 
deliberate  in  actions  as  it  is  in  traveling,  a  fact  which  may  either  ac- 
count for  or  may  be  accounted  for  by  its  extreme  fatness  at  this  season. 

In  the  fall  the  adults  of  both  sexes  take  the  inconspicuous 
plumage  of  the  young  of  the  year  when  all  are  the  subjects  of  much 
patient  scrutiny  by  the  opera-glass  student.  They  are,  however,  only 
to  be  confused  with  the  young  of  the  Bay-breast  from  which  they 
differ  as  described  above.  Still  some  of  the  individuals  of  the  latter 
are  too  much  like  the  Blackpoll  to  be  distinguished  in  life. 

While  a  true  Wood  Warbler,  the  migrating  Blackpoll  host  is  so 
numerous  that  stragglers,  or  even  whole  divisions,  are  found  far  from 
the  main  army  in  our  orchards  and  gardens  and,  in  the  fall,  as  Brewster 
remarks,  "they  are  often  seen  flitting  along  fences  and  stone  walls 
that  traverse  open  country  or  feeding  on  the  ground  in  company  with 
various  species  of  Sparrows,  in  grain  stubbles  and  weed-infested 
fields." 

At  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  writes,  the  Blackpoll  is  abundant 
in  the  fall  and  common  in  the  spring,  when  "it  is  most  dilatory  of  all 
the  late  lingering  migrants,  staying  sometimes  till  near  the  middle  of 
June,  not  only  in  the  spruce  and  tamarack  swamps  about  the  mountain, 
but  even  in  the  big  street  elm  trees  of  the  town  of  Keene,  in  the 
neighboring  low  valley  country  (500  feet).  While  it  lives  in  these 
elms,  it  is  a  most  persistent  singer."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

In  the  summer  I  have  found  the  Blackpoll  to  be  an  abundant  resi- 
dent of  the  stunted  spruce  woods  on  the  Magdalen  Islands,  a  type  of 
growth  which,  when  nesting,  it  also  frequents  in  other  localities. 

Song. — "A  succession  of  hesitating,  staccato,  unmusical  notes 
varying  greatly  in  volume.  The  notes  separated,  not  combined  in 
twos,  as  in  the  Black  and  White  Warbler's  song."  (Farwell,  MS.) 

"Sometimes  the  tempo  is  so  accelerated  as  to  constitute  a  rapid, 
sibilant,  trill.  The  crescendo  and  diminuendo  effects,  however,  are 
always  present,  as  far  as  I  have  observed."  (Fuertes,  MS.) 

"Although  some  phases  of  the  Blackpoll's  very  changeable  song  are 
much  like  variations  of  the  songs  of  other  members  of  the  Warbler  quin- 
tette above  mentioned,  its  usual  performance  is  decidedly  different.  Not 
so  much  in  tone, — though  that  has  its  peculiarities, — as  in  delivery  and 
phrasing.  It  is  a  string  of  from  six  to  twelve  or  more,  short,  equal  and 
equally-divided  sibilant  notes,  cobweb-thin  and  glassy-clear, — uttered 


200  BLACKPOLL  WARBLER 

rather  fast  ;  the  whole  song  smoothly  swelling  in  volume  to  the  middle, 
or  the  second  third,  and  then  smoothly  falling  off.  This  should 
perhaps  be  called  the  one  main  song,  but  the  variations  from  it  are 
many  and  pronounced.  Its  syllables  vary  in  number  from  four  to 
fifteen  or  more;  they  are  sometimes  uttered  very  hurriedly  and  close 
together  —  a  song  like  a  trembling  wire  —  and  sometimes  they  are 
deliberately  and  distinctly  enunciated.  Occasionally  these  two  styles 
of  delivery  are  combined  in  one  utterance.  Again,  the  song's  character- 
istic 'swell  and  fall'  in  volume  is  sometimes,  though  seldom,  wholly 
wanting  ;  and  the  shorter  versions  are  often  crescendo  to  the  end.  So, 
sometimes,  is  that  one  of  the  Blackburnian's  songs  which  gives  him  a 
place  in  the  quintette.  But  this  is  always  (  ?)  more  deliberately  uttered 
than  even  the  most  languid  song  of  any  of  the  other  four  species,  and 
its  notes,  unlike  the  Blackpoll's,  are  in  couplets.  Like  the  Blackpoll's, 
on  the  other  hand,  they  have  a  perfectly  smooth  tone;  —  though  they 
are  less  piercingly  fine."  (Thaycr,  MS.) 

Miss  Paddock  writes:  "There  is  always  a  distinct  crescendo 
and  diminuendo  which  makes  the  sound  seem  to  drift.  It  resembles 
the  sound  children  make  by  striking  the  closed  hand  on  the  knees  to 
make  the  'money  rattle.'  " 


"At  very  close  range  a  double  quality  can  be  distinguished  as 
follows  :" 


I  once  heard  this  unusual  song  from  a  Blackpoll 


Xcsting  Site. — In  the  Island  of  Grand  Menan  this  species  nests 
in  spruce  trees  from  one  to  ten,  but  usually  about  five  feet  up. 
(N orris1).  In  the  Magdalen  Islands,  where  the  birds  are  abundant, 
they  nest  in  the  stunted  spruces  at  an  average  of  about  four  feet. 


NEST   AND    EGGS   OF    BLACKPOLL    WARBLER. 
Photographed  by  H.  K.  JOB,  in  the  Magdalen  Islands. 


OVEN-BIRD   AT    ENTRANCE   TO    NEST,    ABOUT   TO    FEED   YOUNG. 
Photographed  by  FRANK  M.  CHAPMAN,  at  Englewood,  N.  J. 


PINE  WARBLER  2OI 

Nest — "Outside  depth  1.75;  inside  depth  i.io;  outside  diameter, 
3.75 ;  inside  diameter,  2.00.  Composed  of  grasses,  roots,  a  little  lichen 
and  a  few  small  twigs  of  spruce  fir.  Lined  with  fine  grass,  and  over 
this  is  placed  a  thick  lining  of  soft  white  feathers,  apparently  belong- 
ing to  the  domestic  goose."  (N orris'  Grand  Menan  specimens.) 

Eggs. — 4  or  5.  Ground  color  white,  creamy  white  to  dull 
grayish  white,  speckled,  spotted,  and  blotched  with  various  shades  of 
reddish  brown,  lilac,  and  purplish  gray,  in  most  cases  forming  a  wreath 
around  large  end  but  many  eggs  are  well  marked  all  over.  A  rather 
dull  colored  egg,  but  the  markings  are  bold  and  well  defined.  Size ; 
average,  -7ix.52;  extremes  measure  -74X.52,  .67X.53,  .6o,x.5o  and 
•70X.54.  (Figs.  62-64.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  28  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor, 
Me.,  probably  breeds  about  June  20,  but  no  nests  yet  found.  (Knight)  ; 
Grand  Menan,  N.  B.,  June  n-June  20  (/.  P.  N.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  J.  P.  N[oRRis],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Blackpoll  Warbler,  Orn. 
and  O61.,  XV,  1890,  41. 

PINE  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  VIGORSI  VIGORSI  (Aud.)     Plate  XXIV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — In  the  adult  <$  of  this  comparatively  large 
Warbler  the  underparts,  except  the  lower  belly,  are  brignt  greenish  yellow, 
the  breast,  particularly  in  worn  plumage,  often  being  obscurely  streaked,  the 
iipperparts  bright  yellowish  green;  the  wing-bars  soiled  whitish.  The  adult 
V  is  dusky  olive  above  with  a  decided  brownish  tinge,  soiled  whitish  below 
the  breast  tinged  with  yellow.  In  the  young  the  upperparts  are  decidedly  brown, 
the  wing-coverts  are  brownish  white  but  well-defined  and  will  serve  to  distin- 
guish the  species  from  several  species  of  Helminthophila  which  it  superficially 
resembles.  Length  (skin),  5.00;  wing,  2.80;  tail,  2.20;  bill,  .42. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Above  bright  yellow-green;  narrow  line  from  bill  over 
eye  yellow;  inner  webs  of  two  outer  tail-feathers  with  white  patches  at  end; 
outer  web  of  outer  feather  usually  white  basally ;  wings  margined  with  grayish, 
the  median  coverts  tipped,  the  greater  coverts  terminally  margined  with  soiled 
whitish ;  underparts  bright  greenish  yellow  becoming  white  on  the  belly,  the 
breast  sometimes  obscurely  streaked. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  browner  above,  slightly 
veiled  with  whitish  below. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Not  appreciably  different  from  adult  c?  in  Fall. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Much  duller  than  the  cT;  above  dusky  olive-green  tinged 
with  brownish,  the  nape  grayish,  no  yellow  about  eye,  cheeks  grayish,  tail 
with  less  white,  wing-bars  less  pronounced  than  in  c?;  underparts  soiled  gray- 
ish white,  the  breast  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow,  the  flanks  with  brownish. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  9-  in  Spring  but  browner  above  and  on 
flanks;  yellow  on  breast  veiled  with  whitish;  wing-bars  browner. 


202  PINE  WARBLER 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Still  browner  than  the  adult  $  in  Fall ;  often  no  pronounced 
greenish  above  or  yellow  below. 

Nestling. — Above  warm  grayish  brown,  eye-ring  white;  breast  strongly 
washed  with  the  same  color  the  throat  grayer,  the  belly  whiter. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New 
Brunswick  and  Saskatchewan;  west  nearly  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — Southern  Florida  and  the  Gulf  States  to 
southern  Canada  from  New  Brunswick  through  central  Ontario 
(Ottawa,  Muskoka),  to  Manitoba  (Lake  Winnipeg)  and  Saskatche- 
wan (Carlton);  in  this  northern  part  of  the  range  the  species  is 
quite  rare,  except  locally.  In  the  region  of  the  Plains,  where  pine 
forests  are  lacking,  it  is  a  rather  rare  migrant.  Nearer  the  Mississippi 
River  and  thence  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  its  presence  during  the 
breeding  season  is  largely  governed  by  the  extent  of  pine  timber. 
Hence  in  summer,  it  is  more  common  in  the  Southern  States  and  the 
pitch  and  white  pine  districts  of  southern  New  England,  than  in  the 
middle  hard-wood  districts,  throughout  which,  from  about  latitude  37 
degrees  northward,  it  is  known  to  most  observers  as  a  more  or  less 
common  migrant  and  to  a  few  as  a  rather  rare  summer  resident. 

Winter  Range. — This  is  one  of  the  few  Warblers  of  the  eastern 
United  States  whose  winter  home  is  included  in  its  breeding  range. 
During  the  winter  season  the  Pine  Warbler  occupies  approximately 
the  southern  third  of  the  breeding  range ;  hence  it  is  not  surprising 
that  the  birds  are  found  to  be  more  common  there  in  winter  than  at 
any  other  time  of  the  year.  From  North  Carolina  and  southern  Illinois 
southward,  it  is  common  in  winter  in  the  pines ;  occasional  north  in 
winter  to  Massachusetts  (Framingham,  December  5,  1891 ;  January  i, 
1882;  Duxbury,  December  15,  1890).  Casual  in  the  Bermudas,  at 
Revelstoke,  B.  C,  and  at  Matamoras,  Mexico. 

Spring  Migration:  Atlantic  Coast. — The  records  of  spring  migra- 
tion from  the  winter  home  are  neither  regular  nor  numerous,  but  the 
following  notes  on  the  arrival  of  the  first  birds  will  give  a  fair  idea  of 
the  general  movement: 

Lynchburg,  Va.,  March  30,  1901 ;  Washington,  D.  C.,  average 
April  3 ;  Renovo,  Pa.,  April  18,  1894 ;  Engle wood,  N.  J.,  April  18,  1900; 
Portland,  Conn.,  average  April  17;  Durham,  N.  H.,  average  April  26; 
southwestern  Maine,  average  April  20;  Petitcodiac,  N.  B..  May  19, 
1887;  Pictou,  N.  S.,  May  19,  1894;  North  River,  P.  E.  I.,  May  2, 
1889. 

Mississippi  Valley. — Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  24,  1902;  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.,  April  20,  1902 ;  central  Indiana,  average  April  25 ;  south- 
western Ontario,  average  May  4;  Ottawa,  Ont,  average  May  17;  St. 


PINE  WARBLER 


203 


Louis,  Mo.,  April  21,  1883,  April  16,  1888,  April  "n,  1896;  south- 
western Iowa,  average  April  27;  Lanesboro,  Minn.,  average  May  2; 
Aweme,  Man.,  May  21,  1902. 

Fall  Migration. — The  last  Pine  Warbler  seen  at  Aweme,  Man.,  in 
1902,  was  on  September  2 ;  the  average  of  the  last  seen  in  southwestern 
Maine,  is  September  25,  and  the  latest  October  4,  1896.  The  earliest 
migrants  reach  Washington,  D.  C,  the  last  week  in  August,  and  the 
rear  guard  passes  central  Indiana  and  Washington  between  October 
10  and  20. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  pine  barrens  of  Florida  have  no 
more  characteristic  bird  than  this  abundant  Warbler.  Even  on  frosty 
mornings  one  may  hear  its  trilled  monotone  rising  distinctly  above  the 
accompaniment  of  Palm  Warbler  chips,  Bluebird  whistles,  and  Nut- 
hatch chatter.  By  February  i  they  are  singing  in  numbers  and  to 
one  who  is  much  in  the  pines,  their  voice  becomes  as  much  an  audible 
expression  of  the  mood  of  the  trees  as  the  sighing  of  the  wind  through 
their  branches.  The  bird  ranges  from  the  ground  to  the  tree-tops,  and 
is  at  all  times  deliberate  •  in  movements,  picking  its  way  slowly  along 
the  branches  or  even  clinging  to  the  trunk  itself,  its  plumage  generally 
being  more  or  less  soiled  with  pitch. 

While  the  Pine  Warbler  has  one  of  the  most  extended  breeding 
ranges  among  Warblers,  it  is  never  found  nesting  in  other  than  pines, 
and  even  during  its  migrations  it  is  seen  in  other  growths  with  com- 
parative infrequency.  At  West  Englewood,  N.  J.,  where  there  are 
virtually  no  pines,  I  have  seen  it  only  twice. 

Gerald  Thayer  puts  it  very  well  when  he  says:  "Never  was  a 
bird  more  patly  named  than  the  Pine  Warbler.  Except  when  migrat- 
ing, it  sticks  to  pine  woods  as  a  cockle-bur  sticks  to  a  dog's  tail. 
There  is  even  a  sort  of  gummy  sluggishness  about  its  movements,  as 
it  skulks  among  the  pitchy  branches,  crawling  along  their  stems,  and 
doing  little  of  the  agile  twig-skipping,  characteristic  of  its  tribe.  In 
the  breeding  season,  the  Pine  Warbler's  'beat'  lies  between  the 
middles  and  tops  of  big  and  medium-sized  pine  trees;  but  during  mi- 
grations it  is  extended  to  scrubby  deciduous  copses  and  to  apple 
orchards. 

"A  rather  big,  rather  sluggish,  rather  dingy  Warbler,  its  costume 
is  almost  an  epitome  of  inornate  American  Wood  Warbler  coloration. 
Even  less  characteristically  than  the  Yellow  Warbler  does  this  bird 
belong  to  the  breeding  avifauna  of  Mt.  Monadnock  proper.  But  it  is 
fairly  common  no  further  away  than  Keene  (ten  miles),  in  river- 
bordering  groves  of  big  white  pines ;  and  one  or  two  singing  males 
wander  to  Monadnock's  northern  base  about  mid-summer,  or  earlier, 


204 


PINE  WARBLER 


almost  every  year.  So  it  is  more  than  likely  an  occasional  pair  has 
bred  here."  (Thaycr,  MS.) 

Song. — The  sweet  trill  of  the  Pine  Warbler  is  one  of  the  most 
characteristic  bird  notes  in  the  great  pine  forests  of  the  south.  In 
Florida  the  birds  are  in  full  song  by  February  I  and  are  frequently 
heard  during  the  winter. 

"The  song  is  a  rather  slow,  rnonotonous  trill ;  the  key  varies  much, 
being  sometimes  lower  than  that  of  any  other  Warbler  song  with 
which  I  am  familiar,  and  always  lower  than  that  of  the  Worm-eating, 
which  it  somewhat  resembles  in  other  respects.  I  have  heard  the  songs 
in  these  two  keys  following  each  other  so  closely  that  it  seemed 
probable  they  were  executed  by  the  same  bird.  These  songs  are 
uttered  at  all  seasons,  I  think ;  certainly  not  more  than  a  few  weeks 
in  December  mark  a  cessation. 

"The  ordinary  call-note  is  a  rather  soft,  lisping,  chirp  somewhat 
like  that  of  the  Parula  Warbler.  During  courtship,  and  while  the 
young  are  being  fed,  a  rapid  and  insistent  chipping  is  common.  Some 
pugnacity  is  displayed  by  the  males  during  courtship;  but  no  obvious 
attempt  is  made  to  show  superior  advantages  in  color  or  song ;  indeed, 
the  commonest  note  then  appears  to  be  the  rapid  chipping  I  have 
mentioned."  (Allison,  MS.) 

"Its  common  song  is  clear  and  sweet ;  an  unbroken,  fluent  trill, 
with  a  tone  and  character  at  once  distinguishable  from  those  of  other 
trilling  wood-birds  of  New  England ; —  the  Junco,  Chipping  Sparrow, 
Myrtle  Warbler,  etc.  It  is  uttered  on  an  even  scale,  but  is  often  cre- 
scendo in  its  first  half  and  diminuendo  in  its  second.  I  have  heard 
no  other  song  from  this  Warbler,  and  no  important  variations  of  this 
one,  either  in  New  England  or  in  the  South.  The  bird  seems  to  be 
about  the  least  versatile  singer  of  its  tribe."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — "In  this  section  ( Statesville,  N.  C.)  the  nest  is 
usually  placed  on  a  horizontal  limb  thirty — but  varying  from  eight 
to  fifty — feet  from  the  ground."  (M'Laughlin1.)  "The  nest  is 
always  placed  in  a  pine,  the  two  species  (Finns  mitis  and  P.  taeda) 
being  used  about  equally,  but  the  situation  varies  a  great  deal.  It  may 
be  on  a  horizontal  limb,  or  built  among  the  small  twigs  toward  the 
end  of  the  limb;  in  whichever  position,  it  is  put  there  to  stay  and 
takes  a  good  deal  of  pulling  to  get  it  away.  It  may  be  close  to  the 
trunk  or  as  far  off  as  fifteen  feet.  The  height  too  varies  from  twelve 
to  eighty  feet,  the  usual  height  being  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet." 
(Britnley4.) 

Nest. — "The  outer  portion  consists  of  long,  thin  strips  of  bark 


PINE  WARBLER  205 

from  grapevines,  bits  of  dead  weeds  and  the  stems  of  dry  oak  leaves, 
intermixed  with  a  very  fine  silken  web  or  cocoon  which  the  bird 
gathers  from  openings  in  the  pine  bark ;  web  of  the  caterpillar  is  also 
often  used.  It  lines  freely  with  feathers  using  a  respectable  quantity 
of  horse-hair  and  dead  tops  of  sedge  also.  The  bottom  consists  mostly 
of  feathers,  and,  on  the  whole,  the  nest  is  quite  warm  and  neatly  built." 
(M'Laughlin1.)  "The  time  occupied  in  building  the  nest  and  laying 
the  four  eggs  is  fourteen  days  provided  the  weather  is  favorable. 
*  *  *  The  female  Pine  Waj-bler  gathers  material  from  the  trunks 
and  limbs  of  trees  and  from  the  ground,  and  from  both  near  the  nest 
and  as  far  as  several  hundred  yards.  *  *  *  The  female  does  most 
of  the  building  but  on  one  occasion  we  observed  the  male  assisting 
her.  As  a  rule,  however,  he  merely  accompanies  her  in  her  journeys, 
keeping  a  little  way  off  and  singing  assiduously  his  own  individual 
song.  *  *  *  The  nest  is  solid  and  deep.  It  is  constructed  of  weed 
stems,  horse-hair  and  feathers.  The  dark-colored  grapevine  bark  on 
the  outside  gives  it  an  appearance  characteristic  of  this  species.  A 
good  deal  of  caterpillar's  silk  also  is  used,  as  well  as  small  cocoons." 
(Brimley*.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Charleston,  S.  C,  March  28-M.ay  13  (Wayne); 
Raleigh,  N.  C.,  March  24  (Brimley)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  July  4, 
young  in  nest.  (Bishop)  ;  Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying, 
May  20-30  (Brewster)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  June  2,  seen  taking  food  to  in- 
accessible nest,  either  for  mate  or  young  (Knight)  ;  Porcupine  Mts., 
Mich.,  July  19,  adults  feed  young,  Wood  (Barrows). 

Eggs. — Usually  4,  rarely  5.  Ground  color  varies  from  a  dull 
creamy  white  to  grayish  or  bluish  gray-white,  about  90  per  cent,  in  a 
large  series,  are  heavily  wreathed  around  large  end  but,  in  all  cases, 
the  markings  are  bold  and  heavy;  they  consist  of  specks,  spots  and 
blotches,  in  some  cases  much  run  together,  of  many  shades  of  lilac- 
gray,  reddish  brown,  burnt  umber,  purplish  brown  and  blackish  with 
under  shell-markings  of  lavender  and  grayish.  Size ;  average  ./2X.54, 
extremes  measure  Jfx.SS,  .64X.52,  7ix.5i,  .65x.si.  (Figs.  79-81.) 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  R.  B.  M'LAUGHLIN,  Nesting  of  the  Pine-Creeping  Warbler,  (in  Nor. 
Car.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  171.  (2)  C.  S.  BRIMLEY,  Nesting  of  the  Pine 
Warbler  in  1888,  (in  Nor.  Car.),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIII,  1888,  89;  (3)  XIV,  1889, 
!57;  (4)  On  the  Breeding  Habits  of  Dendroica  vigorsii  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Auk, 
VIII,  igQi,  199-  (5)  J-  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Pine  Warbler, 
Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  130.  (6)  J.  W.  P.  SMITHWICK,  Nesting  and  other 
Habits  of  the  Pine  Warbler  in  eastern  North  Carolina,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XVI, 
1891,  119. 


206  KIRTLAND'S    WARBLER 

KiRTLAND'S  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  KIRTLANDI  Bilrd      Plate  XI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Kirtland's  Warbler  may  be  known  by  its  large 
size,  slate-colored  or  grayish  crown,  brown,  black-streaked  back,  pale  yellow 
underparts  and  streaked  sides.  Length  (skin),  5.10;  wing,  2.75;  tail,  2.30; 
bill,  42. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  and  nape  slaty  finely  streaked  with  black;  cheeks 
and  frontlet  black  of  blackish,  eye-ring  with  white  on  upper  and  lower  por- 
tions; back  grayish  broadly  streaked  with  black;  tail  edged  with  grayish  the 
inner  web  of  two  outer  feathers  with  white  patches  at  end ;  wings  fuscous-brown 
edged  with  grayish;  wing-coverts  blacker  margined  with  brownish  or  soiled 
white;  below  pale  yellow,  breast  slightly  spotted,  sides  heavily  streaked  with 
black;  flanks  tinged  with  brown. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  <£  but  lores  and  cheeks  grayish;  black 
streaks  less  pronounced,  less  white  in  the  tail. 

Adults  in  Fall. — Fall  specimens  of  both  sexes  have  the  upperparts  much 
browner  than  in  Spring,  the  wings  more  broadly  margined  and  browner,  the 
flanks  with  a  stronger  brownish  wash. 

Nestling. — Not  seen. 

General  Distribution. — Southeastern  United  States ;  northwest  to 
Minnesota;  west  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

Summer  Range. — All  the  known  breeding  records  of  Kirtland's 
Warbler  come  from  a  restricted  area  in  north  central  Michigan  com- 
prising Oscoda,  Crawford,  and  Roscommon  Counties. 
Winter  Range. — The  Bahama  Islands. 

Spring  Migration. — This,  the  rarest  of  American  Warblers,  has 
been  taken  at  West  Jupiter,  Fla.,  April  19  and  27,  1897 ;  Cumberland 
Island,  Ga.,  April  12,  1902;  St.  Helena  Island,  S.  C,  April  27  and  May 
3,  1886;  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  8,  1885;  Wabash,  Ind.,  May  4,  1892, 
May  7,  1895 ;  Richmond,Ind.,  May  13,  1905 ;  near  Chicago,  111.,  May 

17,  1894,  May  22,  1899;  Rockford,  111.,  May  25,  1894;  Lake  Kosh- 
konong,  Wis,  May  24,  1893;  Cleveland  O.,  May  ( ?)  1860,  May  4  and 

12,  1880,  May  13,  1851,  May  15;  Cincinnati,  O.,  May  1872;  Oberlin, 
O.,  May  n,  1900;  May  9  1904;  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  May  15,  1885; 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  May  14.  1902,  May  15,  1875,  May  16,  1879,  May 

18,  1888;  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  May  n,  1883;  Mackinac  Island,  Mich., 
May  21,  1885;  Toronto,  Ont;  May  16,  1900;  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  May 

13,  1892. 

Fall  Migration. — In  the  fall  this  species  has  been  noted  near  Iron- 
ton,  Ohio,  August  28,  1902;  Fort  Meyer,  Virginia,  September  25, 
1887;  Chester,  S.  C,  October  11,  1888;  and  at  Mount  Pleasant,  S.  C., 
October  29,  1903. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts.— Over  fifty  years  have  passed  since  this 
species  was  discovered  but  it  still  remains  the  rarest  of  North  American 


KIRTLAND'S    WARBLER 


207 


Warblers.  In  1898  I1  estimated  that  sixty-eight  specimens  of  it  were 
known,  of  which  twenty  had  been  taken  in  the  United  States,  the 
remaining  forty-eight  in  the  Bahamas,  to  which  islands  it  is  apparently 
restricted  in  the  winter. 

At  this  time  the  bird's  breeding  habits  were  still  unknown,  but  in 
June,  1903,  its  nest  was  discovered  by  Norman  A.  Wood2  in  Oscoda 
County,  Michigan.  The  following  year  in  the  same  county,  a  nest 
with  three  eggs  was  taken  June  6,  by  R.  A.  Brown  and  J.  A.  Parmelee, 
and,  on  June  15,  a  nest  with  four  eggs  by  E.  Arnold4.  The  appended 
biography,  contributed  by  Mr.  Wood,  is  based  on  his  own  studies  in 
1903,  and  those  of  Brown  and  Parmelee  in  1904. 

"This  bird  is  of  local  distribution,  living  and  nesting  on  the 
high,  sandy,  jack-pine  plains  of  Crawford,  Oscoda,  Roscommon,  and 
probably,  Otsego  and  Montmorency  Counties,  Michigan.  It  may 
breed  also  in  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan  and  in  northern  Wis- 
consin and  Minnesota.  It  is  unevenly  distributed  throughout  the 
counties  named,  only  occurring  in  colonies,  and  these  are  from  two  to 
ten  miles  apart.  I  have  hunted  over  hundreds  of  acres  of  seemingly 
favorable  ground,  and  failed  to  find  a  single  pair.  This  Warbler  is  a 
very  graceful  walker  and  seems  equally  at  home  on  trees  or  on  the 
ground,  where  the  habit  of  bobbing  its  tail  is  very  characteristic. 

"Incubation  seems  to  be  performed  by  the  female  alone  and  she 
seems  to  feed  herself  while  incubating.  When  the  young  were  newly 
hatched,  I  have  seen  the  male  carry  as  food  a  white  moth,  that  is  com- 
mon on  the  small  jack  pines,  and  deer  flies,  but  I  could  not  tell  if  the 
female  ate  them  or  fed  the  young  with  them. 

"The  female  is  a  close  sitter  and  left  the  nest  only  when  I  was 
within  two  or  three  feet  of  it.  When  flushed  she  fluttered  off  with 
open  wings  and  tail  trying  to  lead  me  after  her,  failing  in  this  she 
came  back  and  circled  about  the  nest  uttering  a  sharp  chip-chip,  even 
alighting  on  the  toe  of  Mr.  Parmelee's  shoe  as  he  sat  near  the  nest. 

"On  July  8-11,  1903,  when  but  a  few  days  old,  the  young  seemed 
to  have  no  fear  of  me,  but  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  when  I  tried 
to  take  a  photograph  of  the  nest,  they  scampered  out  and  quickly  hid 
in  the  thick  cover,  and  I  had  to  put  them  back  a  number  of  times  before 
they  would  stay.  I  think  they  leave  the  nest  at  twelve  or  eighteen 
days  of  age.  Both  parents  brought  food  to  the  nest,  but  the  female 
came  oftener  and  was  more  fearless  than  the  male. 

Song. — "This  Warbler  has  several  distinct  songs,  all  of  which 
belong  to  the  whistling  type  and  have  the  clear  ringing  quality  of  the 
Oriole's.  The  usual  perch,  while  singing,  is  the  top  of  a  dead  stub 
or  limb  of  such  a  tree  in  the  vicinity  of  its  home.  At  short  intervals 


208  KIRTLAND'S    WARBLER 

you  will  hear  the  song  and  see  the  singer  with  wings  slightly  lowered, 
tail  drooping,  and  plumage  fluffed,  but  with  the  body  erect  and  head 
thrown  back,  uttering  earnestly  and  very  forcibly  Chip-chip-che  chee 
chee-r-r-r.  The  first  two  notes  are  soft  and  short,  the  next  three 
uttered  rapidly,  increasing  in  volume  and  ending  in  a  clear  ringing 
whistle  on  the  r.  The  male  of  a  pair  that  seemed  to  be  courting  (See 
Bull.  Mich.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  V,  1904,  6.)  had  a  different  song,  more 
like  Wichy-chee-chee-chee-r-r.  This  song  was  not  so  loud  and  ring- 
ing but  was  very  sweet  and  clear.  This  male  lit  and  sang  low  down 
in  the  jack  pines  many  times.  One  male,  with  a  worm  in  his  bill, 
sang,  at  intervals  of  fifty  or  sixty  seconds,  a  song  which  sounded  like 
Ch-ch-che-che-che-ah,  the  ah  long  drawn  out.  When  I  found  the 
nest,  this  male  came  down  to  the  tops  of  the  small  jack  pines  and  sang 
rapidly  as  though  much  excited  by  my  presence,  and  this  song  seemed 
then  to  take  a  scolding  tone,  like  Che-che  che-chee-wich-a-a.  All  of 
the  males  have  a  sharp  call  note  chip-chip;  and  the  females  the  same 
chip  only  lower  and  softer. 

"On  the  morning  of  May  6,  1905,  near  Ann  Arbor,  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  a  fine  male  sing  a  different  song  of  the  same 
general  character,  but  softer  and  not  given  with  the  intense  earnest- 
ness of  the  breeding  bird.  It  sounded  as  though  he  was  singing  to 
himself  and  not  at  you.  It  had  much  of  the  r  and  z  quality  and  I  give 
it  tsip-tsip,  chze-chze-e-e.  In  its  summer  home  it  sings  from  morning 
till  night;  only  not  so  frequently  through  the  heat  of  the  day,  from 
the  time  of  arrival  in  May,  and  through  June  it  is  in  full  song,  and 
when  I  left  on  July  15,  it  was  still  singing.  They  leave  their  summer 
home  the  first  of  August,  when  the  females  and  young  start  south. 
The  males  are  content  to  linger  and  old  ones  were  seen  as  late  as 
August  20,  1903,  and  September  3,  1904.  These  were  the  last  ones 
seen  by  Mr.  Parmelee,  who  lives  near  their  nesting  grounds. 

Nesting  Site. — "The  nesting  site  (See  photographs  in  Bull.  Mich. 
Orn.  Club,  Vol.  V,  1904,  pp.  4,  7,  n)  is  usually  in  a  dense  growth 
of  small  Jack  pine  and  scrub  oak ;  not  always  at  the  foot  of  one  of 
these  trees  but  as  a  rule,  under  one  and  protected  by  its  shade.  Here 
the  bird  excavates  a  site  and  in  this  hole  builds  its  nest,  the  top  about 
even  with  the  ground,  sometimes  with  a  rim,  making  the  nest  cup- 
shaped. 

Nest. — "These  birds  return  each  year  to  their  chosen  locality  and 
no  doubt  to  a  spot  near  the  site  of  the  previous  year.  About  fourteen 
inches  from  the  nest  shown  in  the  Bulletin  is  a  nest  of  the  year  before. 
In  June  1904,  all  of  the  colonies  described  in  the  Bulletin  contained 


PRAIRIE  WARBLER  209 

more  individuals  than  in  1903.  Mr.  Parmelee,  who  observed  them, 
says  the  male  does  not  help  to  build  the  nest  but  sits  near  by  and 
sings  all  of  the  time. 

"The  nest  is  made  of  soft  bark,  strips  of  vegetable  fiber,  and 
dead  grass,  with  dead  flower  stems  of  arbutus  and  weeds,  which  make 
the  outside  firm.  It  is  lined  with  fine,  dead  grass,  old  pine  needles, 
and,  lastly,  with  horse  and  cattle  hair. 

Nesting  Dates. — "There  is  much  variation  in  the  time  of  nesting. 
I  have  the  first  nest  with  complete  set  of  three  eggs  ever  taken;  it 
was  found  in  Oscoda  County,  June  6,  1904,  the  earliest  recorded  nest- 
ing date.  On  July  7,  1903,  I  flushed  a  female  at  work  on  a  nest  site, 
but,  possibly,  her  first  nest  may  have  been  destroyed.  The  average  is 
from  June  15  to  20,  although  I  am  sure  it  varies  with  each  season. 

Eggs. — "The  eggs  in  a  set  vary  from  3  to  5  the  usual  number 
being  4,  only  two  sets  of  3  are  recorded,  while  of  5  we  have  three  nests 
recorded,  and  eight  at  least  of  4.  Only  one  brood  is  reared  each  year. 
Second  sets  are  no  doubt  laid  to  replace  a  first  set  which  has  been 
destroyed."  (N.  A.  Wood,  MS.) 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  F.  M.  CHAPMAN,  Kirtland's  Warbler,  Auk,  XV,  1898,  289.  (2)  N. 
A.  WOOD,  Discovery  of  the  Breeding  Area  of  Kirtland's  Warbler,  Bull.  Mich. 
Orn.  Club,  V,  1904,  I.  (3)  C.  C.  ADAMS,  The  Migration  Route  of  Kirtland's 
Warbler,  Bull.  Mich.  Orn.  Club,  V,  1904,  14.  (4)  E.  ARNOLD,  Nesting  of 
Kirtland's  Warbler  in  northern  Michigan,  1904,  Bull.  Mich.  Orn.  Club,  V, 
1904,  67. 

PRAIRIE  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  DISCOLOR  (Vieill.)     Plate  I 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  c?,  and,  usually  the  adult  $,  may  be 
known  by  the  reddish  chestnut  dorsal  spots,  while  the  small  size,  entirely 
yellow  underparts,  more  or  less  streaked  sides,  and  yellowish  wing-bars  will 
identify  most  specimens  without  regard  to  age.  Length  (skin),  4.20;  wing, 
2.20;  tail,  1.90;  bill,  .35. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Above  bright  olive-green  the  center  of  the  back  spotted 
with  reddish  chestnut;  line  over,  and  space  below  eye  yellow,  a  blackish 
streak  through  eye;  outer  tail-feather  largely  white  on  both  webs,  second 
and  third  feathers  white  at  end  of  inner  web;  wings  edged  with  greenish  the 
median  and  greater  coverts  edged  with  dusky  yellowish ;  underparts  entirely 
yellow,  a  black  crescent  at  the  side  of  the  throat,  sides  streaked  with  black. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  reddish  chestnut  spots 
in  back  more  or  less  concealed  by  olive-green  tips  to  feathers. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  but  chestnut  marks  in  back  small  or 
wanting,  cheeks  grayish,  line  over  eye  less  distinct,  black  marks  much  reduced 
or  absent,  wing-bars  duller,  less  white  in  tail. 


210 


PRAIRIE  WARBLER 


Adult  ?,  Spring.— Similar  to  adult  o"  but  chestnut  back  marks  much  reduced 
or  wanting,  back  duller,  black  markings  less  pronounced  (better  defined  than 
in  young  cO  wing-bars  duller.  In  very  worn  plumage  (late  summer)  the  upper- 
parts  become  grayish,  the  underparts  whitish. 

Adult  ?,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  back  with  a  grayish  bloom, 
cheeks  grayer,  line  over  eye  less  distinct,  black  markings  less  pronounced. 

Young  J,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  but  no  chestnut  in  back,  cheeks  still 
grayer,  black  marks  faint  and  dusky  or  entirely  absent. 

Nestling.— Above  olive-grayish  brown;  below  whitish  the  breast  dusky;  a 
faint  grayish  line  over  the  eye;  wing-coverts  blackish  tipped  with  buffy. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States ;  north  to  southern 
New  England  and  Michigan;  west  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  Prairie  Warbler  is  a  bird  of  middle  alti- 
tudes, shunning  the  mountains  above  a  thousand  feet  and  rare  in  the 
low  coastal  region  of  the  Gulf  States.  Along  the  Atlantic  slope  it  is 
common  from  the  northern  Bahamas  and  Florida  north  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  north  of  Philadelphia,  it  is  found,  as  a  rule,  only  near  the 
coast;  common  locally  in  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  and  eastern 
Massachusetts,  where  it  is  characteristic  of  the  barberry  districts 
(Plymouth  and  Bristol  Counties,  Martha's  Vineyard)  ;  casual  or  acci- 
dental in  New  Hampshire  (Hollis,  June  28,  1884,  August  23,  1876, 
September  4,  1876;  Manchester,  spring,  1901),  Ontario  (Toronto, 
May  n,  1900;  Mt.  Forest,  May  13,  1905),  Michigan  (Port  Huron, 
May  20,  1900;  Ottawa  County,  May  26,  1879;  Montcalm  County), 
Wisconsin,  (Racine,  Lake  Koshkonong).  The  western  range  extends 
regularly  to  eastern  Nebraska  (  West  Point,  Omaha),  eastern  Kansas, 
rarely  to  southern  Mississippi  (Beauvoir),  Louisiana  (West  Baton 
Rouge  Parish),  and  Texas  (Gainesville). 

Winter  Range. — The  Greater  Antilles,  the  Bahamas  and  the 
southern  half  of  Florida. 

Spring  Migration. — From  its  winter  home  in  the  West  Indies 
and  Florida,  the  Prairie  Warbler  begins  to  move  northward  early  in 
March,  though  the  full  tide  of  migration  does  not  start  until  the  last 
of  the  month. 


PI.ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Raleigh,  N.   C  

16 

April  15 

April    6   1802 

Washington,  D.  C  

5 

April  22 

April  19    1891 

Southeastern  New  York 

14 

May      4 

Portland,   Conn  

4 

May      6 

April  27    1888 

Jewett  City    Conn 

IO 

May      7 

May      i    1806 

Boston.  Mass    .  .                         ... 

8 

May      8 

Eubank    Ky 

April  20 

Toronto,  Ont.    . 

PRAIRIE  WARBLER  211 

The  latest  records  of  striking  the  southern  lighthouses  are  in  the 
first  half  of  May  and  the  earliest  spring  date  is  March  7.  Thus  the 
period  of  spring  migration  in  the  southern  United  States  extends 
through  more  than  nine  weeks. 

Fall  Migration. — The  southward  migration  occupies  more  time 
than  the  northward,  and  lasts  from  the  middle  of  August  to  the  first 
week  in  November.  Some  dates  of  the  last  ones  noted  are  at  Taunton, 
Mass.,  Sept.  15,  1887;  Shelter  Island  Heights,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  19,  1901; 
Washington,  D.  C,  September  4,  1887;  Raleigh  N.  C,  September  9; 
Frogmore,  S.  C.,  September  30,  1886;  Fowey  Rocks  Lighthouse, 
Florida,  November  6,  1891. 

The  records  indicate  that  the  southern  breeding  birds  spend  about 
live  months  in  the  summer  home,  at  least  as  long  in  the  winter  home 
and  the  remainder  of  the  year  in  migration.  Even  the  northern  nest- 
ing birds  remain  for  four  months  at  the  breeding  grounds. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Prairie  Warbler  is  reported  as 
abundant  by  various  observers  from  Florida  to  Massachusetts,  never- 
theless it  is  so  local  in  habit  that,  even  as  a  migrant,  it  is  entirely 
wanting  over  large  areas.  At  Englewood,  N.  J.,  there  are  many 
scrubby  tracts  apparently  suitable  for  its  occupation,  nevertheless  the 
Prairie  Warbler  remains  the  only  member  of  its  family  among  those 
which  might  be  expected  to  occur,  which  I  have  yet  to  find  there. 

At  Columbus,  S.  C,  this  species  is  the  commonest  Warbler, 
inhabiting  partially  cleared  oak  and  hickory  lands.  (Taylor,  MS.)  In 
Virginia  it  breeds  in  bushy  second  growths  of  hickory,  dogwood,  and 
laurel,  with  scattered  pines  and  cedars  (Coues).  In  southern  New 
Jersey  it  is  an  abundant  summer  resident  of  the  Pine  Barrens  (Stone), 
and  in  New  England  it  resorts  to  old  cedar-grown  pastures  and  hill- 
sides with  an  undergrowth  of  barberry.  On  Prospect  Hill,  near 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  Brewster4  notes  an  exception  to  this  custom,  the 
birds  there  frequenting  sprout  growths  and  building  their  nests  in 
sapling  oaks  and  maples. 

Continuing,  Brewster  gives  a  pleasing  picture  of  the  bird's  haunts: 
"Many  and  delightful  were  the  days  I  used  to  spend  looking  for  nests 
of  the  Prairie  Warbler  in  the  hill  pastures  of  Arlington  and  Belmont. 
These  breezy  uplands  are  attractive  at  every  season,  but  most  so  in 
early  June  when  the  barberry  bushes  blossom.  This  is  the  time  when 
our  Prairie  Warblers  have  full  sets  of  fresh  eggs.  A  search  for 
their  nests  among  the  handsome,  dome-shaped  barberry  bushes, 
covered  with  young  foliage  of  the  tenderest  green,  and  with  graceful, 
pendant  clusters  of  golden  yellow  flowers  that  fill  the  air  with 


212  PRAIRIE  WARBLER 

fragrance  and  attract  myriads  of  droning  bees,  is  a  fascinating  and 
memorable  experience,  whatever  be  its  material  results." 

Song. — Dr.  Coues'  unique  characterization  of  the  song  of  the 
Prairie  Warbler  as  suggesting  the  plaint  of  a  mouse  with  the  toothache, 
has  a  certain  aptness  which  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  song  will 
recognize.  It  is  to  me  one  of  the  most  easily  recognized  and 
remembered  of  Warbler's  songs. 

"The  ordinary  call-note  resembles  the  softer  of  the  two  chirps 
uttered  by  the  Yellow  Warbler,  but  is  perhaps  more  slowly  uttered. 
The  song,  uttered  in  spring,  by  the  male,  which  sits,  during  the  per- 
formance, with  the  head  held  vertically  upward,  and  the  tail  straight 
down,  is  a  lisping  trill  much  like  that  of  the  Parula  Warbler  in  its 
general  character ;  but  it  has  a  wiry  quality  that  at  once  distinguishes 
it.  Once  I  heard  another  song,  of  which  I  have  record  only  as  a 
queer,  interrupted  song,  instead  of  the  usual  wiry  trill."  (Allison, 
MS.) 

Nesting  Site.— At  Raleigh,  N.  C,  Brimley8  states  that  this  species 
"delights  in  sunny  hillsides  covered  with  bushes  and  saplings,  building 
its  nest  in  one  of  these  at  a  height  of  from  one  to  twelve  feet  from 
the  ground,  but  usually  about  three  or  four  feet  high.  *  *  *  Un- 
like some  localities  where  this  bird  nests  mainly  in  pine  saplings,  here 
sweet  gums  are  [given]  the  preference,  with  elm  next  best,  nests  being 
only  found  very  occasionally  in  pines." 

Near  Washington,  D.  C.,  Coues1  found  that  the  nests  were  built 
in  an  upright  or  oblique  crotch,  preferably  one  formed  in  part  by  the 
main  stem  of  a  bush,  from  one  and  a  half  to  five  feet  from  the  ground, 
in  a  rather  open,  scrubby,  hilly  locality." 

They  "were  placed  preferably  in  hickory  and  dogwood  bushes. 
Only  three  nests  were  found  in  the  young  pines,  and  one  in  a  cedar 
bush."  (Coues.) 

At  Saybrook,  Conn.,  J.  N.  Clark  (C.  W.  C.)  found  many  nests 
of  this  species  in  hilly  pastures  frequently  in  small  junipers  about 
three  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest. — All  the  nests  of  this  species  which  I  have  examined  are 
characterized  by  the  presence  of  a  large  amount  of  buff  fern  down 
which  is  tightly  woven  or  felted  into  their  walls. 

Brimley8  describes  the  nest  as  "a  beautiful  structure,  usually  being 
largely  composed  of  rabbit  tobacco,  a  kind  of  gray-leaved,  wild  ever- 
lasting very  much  used  by  birds  in  nest-building,  and  lined  with  soft 
materials." 

Coues1  writes  "exceptions  aside,  the  Prairie  Warbler's  nest  may 
bo  v.nracterized  as  a  neat,  cup-shaped  structure,  with  a  firm  some- 


PALM  WARBLER 


213 


what  contracted  brim,  composed  of  vegetable  down  or  soft  fiber  mixed 
with  some  fine  straws  and  a  few  leaves  or  feathers,  lined  with  hair 
and  very  fine  straws." 

Eggs- — 3  to  5>  usually  4.  Ground  color  white  to  pale  greenish 
white  marked  with  specks,  spots  and  small  blotches  of  chestnut-brown, 
burnt  umber,  purplish  brown  and  many  under  shell-markings  of 
lavender  grayish.  In  some  types  the  markings  form  beautiful  wreathes 
about  the  large  end  with  the  rest  of  the  egg  comparatively  clear  of 
spots;  others  have  the  wreath  very  indistinct  and  many  scattering 
spots  and  specks  over  the  entire  egg;  a  few  extremes,  in  a  large 
series,  have  the  wreath  around  the  small  end.  Size ;  average  .64x49 ; 
extremes  measure  .opx.si,  .55x47.  (Figs.  84-86.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Savannah,  Ga.,  April  25  (C.  W .  C.)  ;  Raleigh, 
N.  C,  May  16  (Brimley}  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  27-June  25 
(Bishop}  ;  Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying,  May  28-June  5 
(Brewster) ;  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich.,  May  26,  Gibbs  (Barrows}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  E.  B.  COUES,  Nesting  of  the  Prairie  Warbler  in  the  Vicinity  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  Auk,  V,  1888,  405.  (2)  H.  K.  JAMISON,  Nesting  of  the  Prairie 
Warbler  in  Fairfax  Co.,  Va.,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  85.  (3)  C.  S.  BRIMLEY, 
Nesting  of  the  Prairie  Warbler  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XV,  1890, 
165.  (4)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  346. 

PALM  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  PALMARUM  PALMARUM  (Groel.)     Plate  XVI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — In  adults  of  both  sexes  the  reddish  chestnut 
crown  and  yellow  throat  are  diagnostic;  while  young  and  winter  adults  may 
be  known  by  their  brown,  more  or  less  streaked  upperparts,  yellowish  upper, 
and  yellow  under  tail-coverts,  streaked  underparts,  white  line  over  eye,  and 
other  characters.  Length  (skin),  4.70;  wing,  2.60;  tail,  2.05;  bill,  40. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  reddish  chestnut,  line  from  bill  over  eye  yellow; 
back  olive  grayish  brown  obscurely  streaked,  upper  tail-coverts  yellowish;  two 
outer  tail-feathers  with  sharply  defined  white  patches  at  tips  of  inner  webs; 
wing-coverts  edged  with  brownish  gray  not  forming  conspicuous  bars;  throat 
and  upper  breast  yellow  rest  of  underparts  grayish  white  more  or  less  suffused 
with  yellow,  sides  brownish,  throat  and  sides  streaked  with  reddish  chestnut, 
under  tail-coverts  yellow. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  chestnut  crown  widely 
tipped  with  brown,  line  over  eye  white  or  whitish,  throat  and  upper  breast 
suffused  with  yellow,  or  whitish  without  yellow,  rest  of  underparts  suffused 
with  yellow,  streaks  below  blacker. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  crown  with  less  or  even  no 
chestnut,  throat  usually  without  yellow. 


214 


PALM  WARBLER 


Adult  and  young  ?.. — Not  certainly  to  be  distinguished  from  the  d"  of  cor- 
responding age. 

Nestling.— Not  seen. 

General  Distribution. — Florida,  Mississippi  Valley,  and  interior 
of  British  America;  rare  but  regular  migrant  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
chiefly  in  fall. 

Summer  Range. — Interior  of  British  America  north  of  Manitoba 
and  west  of  Hudson  Bay.  Accidental  in  Colorado  (Denver,  June  20, 
1891),  Montana  (Great  Falls,  Sept.  18,  1889),  and  California  (Pacific 
Grove,  Oct.  9,  1896). 

Winter  Range. — Florida  (abundant  in  Alachua  Co.)  southward 
to  the  West  Indies ;  Yucatan. 

Spring  Migration. — The  Palm  Warbler  has  been  separated  into 
two  sub-species,  of  which  Dendroica  palmarum  palmarum  ranges  west 
of  the  Alleghenies,  while  Dendroica  palmarum  hypochrysea,  the 
Yellow  Palm  Warbler,  occurs  along  the  Atlantic  slope.  In  the  follow- 
ing notes,  the  locality  will  serve  as  a  general  guide  to  the  particular 
form  referred  to. 


PI<ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast— 
Raleigh,   N.   C    .     . 

7 

March  31 

February  13,  1890 

Washington,  D.   C  

6 

April    6 

March  31,  1889 

Germantown,    Pa  

4 

April  14 

April  ii,  1889 

Englewood,   N.  J. 

April  14 

April  ii,  1902 

New  Providence,  N.  J  
Southeastern   New   York    

5 
5 

April  17 
April  18 

April  13,  1889 
April  14,  1893 

East   Hartford,  Conn 

6 

April  16 

April    9,  1887 

Boston,    Mass  

ii 

April  18 

April  13,  1897 

Southern    Maine 

10 

April  23 

April  16,  1896 

St.  John,  N.  B  

ii 

April  20 

April  13,  1896 

Halifax,   N    S 

April  27 

April  20,  1890 

Pictou,   N.   S  

i 

May      i 

April  28,  1894 

Mississippi  Valley- 
Si    Louis    Mo 

April    s    1882 

Chicago,    111 

April  25 

April  17    1897 

Southern    Wisconsin    

8 

April  30 

April  22,  1886 

Oberlin    Ohio 

g 

April  30 

April  24    1897 

Petersburg,    Mich.     ;  

10 

April  70 

April  26    1894 

Listowel,    Ont  

i\r       ° 
May      2 

April  28,  1894 

Hillsboro    Iowa 

April  22 

April  14    1896 

Grinnell,    Iowa    

April  26 

April  ^2    1888 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

10 

April  27 

April  23,  1890 

Minneapolis    Minn 

April  30 

April  27    1889 

Elk  River,  Minn  

Mav      1 

May      i    1886 

Aweme,   Manitoba   

6 

May      7 

May      3,  1901 

Fort  Chippewyan,  Alberta      .... 

May    23    1901 

PLATE  XVI 


1.  CAPE  MAY  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE.  4.  PALM  WARBLER,  ADULT. 

2.  CAPE  MAY  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE.  5.  PALM  WARBLER,  YOUNG. 

3.  CAPE  MAY  WARBLER,  YOUNG  FEMALE. 
(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


PALM  WARBLER 


215 


Fall  Migration- 


PIvACE 

No.   of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Northwestern    Minnesota           

2 

September  10 

September    9    1896 

Lanesboro,    Minn         

2 

September  18 

September  17    1888 

Chicago,    111     

3 

September  15 

September    4,  1900 

Oberlin,   Ohio    

5 

September  26 

September  16,  1898 

Southern    Maine    

6 

September  28 

September  19,  1892 

September  13 

September    7    1889 

September  26    1886 

September    7    1896 

PI,ACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

lyatest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

6 

October     i 

October    3    1890 

6 

October    9 

October  18    1896 

North   River,  Prince  Edward  Island 
St    John    N    B 

October  13 

September  15,  1887 
October  18    1896 

Southern    Maine             

7 

October  13 

New  Providence    N    J      

October  12 

October  18    1894 

Washington    D    C      

October  19    1890 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Palm  Warblers,  including  under 
this  head  both  the  present  species  and  its  eastern  representative,  hypo- 
chrysea,  are  strikingly  unlike  all  but  one  of  their  congeners  in  color, 
in  actions,  and  in  choice  of  both  haunts  and  nesting  site.  Kirtland's 
Warbler  is  the  only  other  member  of  the  genus  which  nests  on  the 
ground,  and  this  species,  singularly  enough,  is  the  only  other  Den- 
droica  which  has  the  habit  of  tail-wagging. 

It  is  this  motion  in  connection  with  the  bird's  occurrence  in  old 
fields,  that  causes  it  to  be  likened  to  the  Titlark  or  Pipit;  the  latter, 
however,  is  purely  terrestrial,  rarely  if  ever  alighting  in  bushes  or  on 
fences,  etc.,  as  is  the  custom  of  this  Warbler. 

During  the  winter,  and  indeed,  until  May  i,  the  Palm  Warbler  is 
one  of  the  commonest  birds  in  Florida.  It  inhabits  not  only  the 
pineries,  old  fields,  and  fence-rows,  but  is  common  in  gardens  and  even 
visits  the  streets  of  the  towns,  its  oft-repeated  chip  and  wagging  tail 
impressing  themselves  on  the  memory  as  characteristic  features  of 
Florida's  winter  bird-life. 

Allison  writes  that  "about  New  Orleans,  this  Warbler  is  found 
on  open  ground,  roadsides,  pastures,  etc., — with  small  bushes,  clumps 
of  palmetto,  or  occasional  willow  trees.  In  Tishomingo  County  I 


2i6  YELLOW  PALM  WARBLER 

found  it  abundant  in  spring  on  hillsides  covered  with  a  low  growth 
of  Vaccinium.  It  is  distinctly  a  bird  of  the  ground  and  the  low  growth, 
and  I  have  never  seen  it  perch  twenty  feet  above  the  ground."  (Alli- 
son, MS.) 

Northward  through  the  Mississippi  Valley  this  species  is  a  com- 
mon migrant,  but  it  nests  so  much  farther  north  than  the  Yellow 
Palm  that  we  know  but  little  of  its  habits  during  the  summer. 

In  September  and  October  the  Palm  Warbler  occurs  as  a  rare 
but  regular  migrant  in  the  Atlantic  States.  Brewster  records  an  in- 
dividual seen  by  Hoffman  at  Belmont,  Mass.,  December  6,  1902. 

Song. — "The  trill  remains  as  a  prominent  feature,  but  the  note 
is  no  longer  a  true  chip.  Better  tsee  tsee  tsee  tsee,  with  a  distinct 
swell.  Each  syllable  should  be  given  a  half  double  utterance  except  at 
the  middle  of  the  swell,  where  the  greater  effort  seems  to  completely 
coalesce  the  half  double  quality  into  one  distinct  syllable.  There  is  a 
little  similarity  to  the  song  of  Myrtle  Warbler,  but  lacking  the  liquid 
quality  of  that  species."  (Jones.) 

Nesting  Site. — A  nest  containing  five  young  was  found  by  Kenni- 
cott  at  Fort  Resolution,  June  18,  on  the  ground,  in  a  hummock,  at  the 
foot  of  a  small  spruce  (B.  B.  &  R.  i,  275). 

Eggs. — "Yellowish  or  creamy  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the 
larger  end  with  brown  and  purple."  (Bailey,  Birds  W.  U.  S.) 

YELLOW  PALM  WARBLER 

DENDROICA   PALMARUM  HYPOCHRYSEA     Ridgw. 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Dendroica  paltnarum  paltnarum  but 
larger,  upperparts  more  olive,  underparts  entirely  yellow,  the  streaks  browner, 
line  over  eye  yellow  at  all  seasons.  In  winter  the  yellow  below  is  more  or 
less  veiled  with  whitish  but  I  have  seen  few  specimens  that  were  not  sufficiently 
unlike  D.  p.  paltnarum  to  be  distinguished  in  life.  Length  (skin),  4.80;  wing, 
2.70;  tail,  2.10;  bill,  40. 

Nestling. — Above  olive-brown  strongly  streaked  with  black;  below  whitish 
strongly  and  evenly  streaked  with  black,  except  on  lower  abdomen;  median 
and  greater  wing-coverts  edged  with  brownish  and  tipped  with  buffy  forming 
more  conspicuous  bars  than  in  the  young  in  Fall  plumage. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America. 

Summer  Range. — From  Bangor,  Maine,  and  Nova  Scotia  north- 
ward to  Labrador,  east  of  Hudson  Bay. 

Winter  Range. — From  North  Carolina  south  to  the  Florida  Keys, 
west  to  Louisiana,  rare  in  the  West  Indies. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — So  far  as  habits  are  concerned  this 
bird  agrees  with  its  Mississippi  Valley  representative,  Dendroica  p. 
palmarum.  It  is  apparently  less  abundant  than  that  form  which, 


YELLOW  PALM   WARBLER 


217 


although  it  is  found  commonly  in  the  West  Indies  in  winter,  is  still 
more  numerous  in  the  United  States  than  hypochrysea,  which  rarely 
ventures  beyond  our  limits.  About  Gainesville,  Fla.,  an  occasional 
individual  of  the  Yellow  Palm  was  seen  with  the  loose  flocks  of 
palmarum,  fifteen  of  the  former  to  at  least  several  thousands  of  the 
latter  being  observed  there  during  a  single  winter. 

Brewster  says:  "Yellow  Palm  Warblers  visit  the  Cambridge  region 
with  unfailing  regularity  in  spring  and  autumn,  although  their  numbers 
vary  greatly  from  year  to  year.  *  *  *  In  spring  they  associate 
freely  with  Myrtle  Warblers,  and  hence  frequent  much  the  same 
places,  although  they  resort  rather  less  to  upland  woods  and  are  even 
more  given  to  haunting  thickets  near  water,  and  to  venture  out  into 
fields  and  pastures  where  they  sometimes  occur  hundreds  of  yards 
from  any  cover.  Their  favorite  haunts  in  autumn  are  barren  tracts 
sparsely  covered  with  gray  birches." 

Gerald  Thayer  writes:  "Earliest  among  Monadnock's  spring- 
arriving  Warblers  is  the  Myrtle  and  close  behind  it  comes  this  beauti- 
ful, ruddy-crowned,  golden-browed,  and  red-streaked,  golden-breasted 
'tail-tipper'  of  field-borders  and  bushy  roadsides ;  a  bird  of  the  semi- 
open  ground  and  the  first  tier  of  scattered  woody  growth  above  it. 

"With  a  methodic  regularity  which  almost  saves  the  action  from 
the  look  of  nervousness,  his  greenish  tail  is  forever  swinging  up  and 
down.  Ducks  and  Motmots,  and  some  other  birds  really  wag  their 
tail,  from  side  to  side ;  but  it  is  a  far  commoner  trick  to  jerk  or  wave 
it  up  and  down,  as  is  the  way  of  the  Yellow  Palm  and  Palm  and 
several  other  eastern  Warblers.  The  two  'Palms'  come  nearest  to  being 
'continuous  performers'  of  the  trick,  but  even  they  have  occasional 
lapses  into  quietness,  in  the  midst  of  their  flitting  and  feed- 
ing." (Thayer,  MS.} 

O.  W.  Knight2,  who  first  discovered  this  species  breeding  in  the 
United  States,  writes  that  in  Maine,  in  the  nesting  season,  this  species 
"may  be  confidently  looked  for  in  sphagnum-hackmatack  bogs  with 
open  stretches,  within  the  Canadian  fauna  sections  of  the  State.  So 
far  as  known,  the  birds  are  found  in  what  may  be  perhaps  termed 
loosely  aggregated  colonies." 

Song. — Knight1  writes  that  in  Maine  the  song  is  heard  until  well 
into  June.  "It  consists  of  a  series  of  trills  which  may  be  rendered 
tsee  tsee  tsee  tsee  tsee,  and  the  call  and  alarm  notes  are  mere  chips 
uttered  with  various  intonations"  (Knight*}. 

"The  Yellow  Palm  sometimes  sings  freely  on  migration.  As  one 
hears  it  then,  it  ranks  low  in  the  scale  of  full-voiced  Warblers,  or 


2i8  YELLOW  PALM  WARBLER 

perhaps  midway  between  them  and  the  weak-voiced,  for  its  tones, 
though  clear  and  sweet,  are  by  no  means  loud.  It  has  at  least  two 
main  songs,  both  varying  a  good  deal.  Both  are  chiefly  trills,  one 
slower  and  fuller-toned,  the  other  much  quicker  and  'thinner.'  To  both, 
but  most  often  and  most  fully  to  the  louder  song,  separate,  twittered 
notes  are  sometimes  added,  at  the  beginning  and  end,  or  sometimes 
at  the  beginning  or  the  end  alone.  The  trill  in  all  its  variations  has  a 
delicate  softness  of  tone,  and  a  hint  of  brokenness  and  hesitancy  in 
delivery,  which  clearly  separates  it  from  all  (?)  other  trill-songs  of 
New  England  birds.  The  migrant  Yellow  Palm's  commonest  call  is 
a  rather  weak  tsip,  small  and  fine,  but  with  a  touch  of  softness,  a 
recognizable  though  scantily  peculiar  little  note.  But  the  bird  makes 
other,  more  subdued  and  ambiguous  lisps"  ( Thayer,  MS. ) 

Nesting  Site. — Knight2  records  nests  found  near  Bangor,  Maine, 
in  the  following  situations :  at  the  base  of  a  small  spruce  imbedded  in 
sphagnum  moss  or  a  tuft  of  grass ;  at  the  foot  of  a  small  fir  bush ; 
between  two  small  bushes,  and  four  inches  from  the  ground  in  a  small 
spruce  bush. 

Nest. — The  same  author  describes  the  nest  as  "composed  of  fine 
dry  sedges  and  grasses,  lined  with  a  very  few  feathers  and  one  or  two 
horse-hairs.  Its  external  diameter  was  three  inches  and  its  internal 
diameter  at  the  top  two  inches.  Its  depth  outside  was  two  and  a  half 
inches  and  the  depth  inside  one  inch." 

Eggs. — 4  or  5.  Knight1  describes  a  set  of  5  as  of  "a  buffy  white 
color,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac.  The  spots  are  thicker  toward 
the  larger  end,  and  tend  to  form  an  irregular  wreath."  Size ;  .63X.5O, 
.64X.50,  .65x48,  .62x48,  .65x49.  (Figs.  82,83.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Bangor,  Me.,  May  30,  nest  with  newly  hatched 
young — June  26,  two  eggs,  incubated  about  four  days.  (Knight}. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  O.  W.  KNIGHT,  The  Nest  and  Eggs  of  the  Yellow  Palm  Warbler,  (in 
Maine),  Nidologist,  II,  1895,  140;  (2)  Contributions  to  the  Life  History  of 
the  Yellow  Palm  Warbler,  Journ.  Me.  Orn.  Soc.,  VI,  1904.  36.  (3)  WM. 
BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  345. 

Genus  SEIURUS  Swainson 

The  three  members  of  this  genus  are,  comparatively  speaking, 
large  birds  with  rather  slender,  straight,  notched,  rounded  bills  (more 
compressed  in  S.  aurocapillus}  and  heavily  streaked  underparts.  Rictal 
bristles  are  barely  evident.  The  wing  is  long,  averaging  an  inch  or 
more  longer  than  the  tail ;  the  three  outer  primaries  are  longest  and  of 


OVEN-BIRD 


219 


about  the  same  length;  the  tail  is  square  or  slightly  notched;  the  feet 
are  pale  or  brownish,  the  tarsus  nearly  an  inch  in  length. 

The  Seiuri  are  distinguished  among  the  Warblers  for  their  super- 
ficial resemblance  to  the  Thrushes,  due  to  the  spotting  of  the  under- 
parts.  Their  plumage  is  without  wing-bars  or  tail-patches,  and,  as  in 
other  dull-colored  species  of  this  family,  the  sexes  are  alike.  All  are 
terrestrial,  walking  birds  and  two  have  the  habit  of  wagging  or  tipping 
the  tail. 

One  of  the  three  species  is  restricted  to  the  Eastern  United  States, 
the  other  two  range  westward  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  northwest- 
ward to  Alaska. 

OVEN-BIRD 

SEIURUS  AUROCAPILLUS  (Linn.)    Plate  XVII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — Large  size,  white,  heavily  streaked  underparts, 
and  orange-brown,  black-margined  crown  are  the  principal  distinguishing  char- 
acters of  the  Oven-bird.  Length  (skin),  5.50;  wing,  3.00;  tail,  2.20;  bill,  .50. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  orange-brown  inconspicuously  tipped  with  brown- 
ish and  bordered  laterally  by  two  pronounced  black  stripes  extending  from  the 
bill  to  the  nape ;  back,  wings,  and  tail  brownish  olive-green,  no  white  wing- 
bars  or  tail-patches,  but  tips  of  outer  tail-feathers  sometimes  narrowly  whitish 
or  brownish  and  wing-coverts  occasionally  margined  with  buffy;  below  white, 
the  throat  unspotted  but  bordered  by  black  lines;  breast  and  sides  heavily 
streaked  with  black,  the  flanks  washed  with  the  color  of  the  back. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  colors  deeper  and  richer, 
brownish  tips  to  orange  crown  wider,  breast,  in  some  specimens,  with  a  brown- 
ish wash. 

Young  d,  Fall. — Indistinguishable  from  adult  d  in  Fall. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Resembles  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  the  orange  crown 
averages  paler  and  more  widely  tipped  with  brownish. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Differs  from  adult  $  in  Spring  in  the  same  manner  that  the 
adult  cT  in  Fall  differs  from  adult  <$  in  Spring. 

Nestling. — Above  bright  cinnamon-brown  streaked  with  black,  the  black 
crown-stripes  of  the  adult  sometimes  evident;  breast  and  sides  paler  than 
back,  faintly  streaked  with  black,  belly  white;  wings  and  tail  as  in  adult  but 
wing-coverts  black  and  tipped  with  rusty. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  Alaska;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Summer  Range. — The  southern  limits  of  the  regular  breeding 
range  are  found  in  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  and  Kansas,  south 
in  the  Allegheny  Mountains  to  South  Carolina ;  accidental  in  Colorado 
(Denver,  June,  1862;  Ramah,  June  5,  1898),  Montana  (Fort  Keogh, 
July  23,  1888),  British  Columbia  (Esquimault).  A  few  are  said  to 
breed  in  the  northern  Bahamas.  The  species  breeds  north  almost  to  the 
limit  of  trees  in  Newfoundland,  Hudson  Bay,  and  Alaska. 


220 


OVEN-BIRD 


Winter  Range. — Western  Mexico  to  northern  South  America ; 
most  of  the  West  Indies,  the  Bahamas,  the  southern  half  of  Florida 
and,  casually,  southern  South  Carolina  and  southern  Louisiana. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years 
recorc 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast- 
Raleigh,  N    C 

je 

April   14 

April    7,  1892 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  
Variety   Mills,   Va  

5 
9 

April  24 
April  26 

April  19.  1891 
April  19,  1891 

Washington,  D.  C  

7 

April  23 

April  10,  1904 

Beaver,   Pa     . 

6 

April  28 

April  24,  1902 

Berwyn,    Pa  

12 

May       I 

April  22,  1897 

Renovo    Pa 

8 

May      2 

April  29,  1896 

Englewood,  N   J 

8 

April  29 

April  25,  1902 

New  Providence,  N.  J  

10 

May      3 

April  28,  1894 

Southeastern  New  York  

15 

May      2 

April  26,  1890 

Alfred,  N    Y    . 

9 

May      8 

May      2,  1902 

Northeastern  New  York  

9 

May      8 

May      3,  1886 

Hartford     Conn 

May      3 

April  26,  1893 

Framingham     Mass 

May      3 

April  30,  1893 

St.  Johnsbury,   Vt  

8 

May      9 

May      5,  1894 

Southern  New  Hampshire   
Southern  Maine 

17 
10 

May      7 
May    10 

May      3,  1899 
May      7,  1899 

Montreal,  Can  

7 

May     13 

May      8,  1887 

Southern  New  Brunswick   

10 

May    20 

May     13,  1904 

Central   Nova  Scotia 

3 

May    23 

May     17,  1895 

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Isl. 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans    La 

3 

April    8 

May     19,  1887 

Eubank,   Ky  

10 

April  10 

April     3    1888 

St    Louis    Mo 

4 

April  14 

Brookville,    Ind 

I 

April  23 

April  14    1883 

Waterloo,   Ind  

12 

April  27 

April  21,  1896 

Oberlin,   Ohio 

9 

April  26 

April  22    1899 

Chicago,  111  

6 

May      3 

April  21,  1902 

Southern  Wisconsin 

9 

May      I 

April  27    1899 

Petersburg,   Mich  

12 

April  27 

April  23    1885 

Detroit     Mich 

12 

May      I 

April  24    1891 

Southern    Ontario 

16 

May      4 

April  30    1899 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa    Ont 

ii 
13 

May    12 
May    16 

May      7,  1902 
May    10    1897 

Keokuk,  Iowa   

10 

April  29 

April  26    1903 

Sabula,  Iowa   

9 

April  30 

April  27,  1896 

Grinnell,    Iowa 

6 

April  30 

April  27    1888 

Lanesboro,    Minn        

8 

May      6 

April  27    1888 

Elk    River,    Minn  

7 

May      7 

May      5,  1888 

Aweme,   Man 

8 

May     14 

May     10    1905 

Red  Deer,   Alberta   

2 

May    28 

May    27    1892 

Athabasca  Lake 

May    29    1901 

Nulato,  Alaska 

May    30    1867 

OVEN-BIRD 


Fall  Migration — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Aweme,   Man  

September  13 

September  23,  1899 

Lanesboro,    Minn  

2 

September  18 

September  22,  1888 

Grinnell,    Iowa    

September  13 

September  16,  1885 

Ottawa    Ont 

Livonia     Mich 

•j 

Detroit    Mich 

12 

October  12    1905 

Chicago,    111 

7 

September  28 

September  30    1808 

Waterloo,   Ind     

October  2 

October    7    1887 

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Island 

2 

August  26 

September    2,  1888 

Renovo     Pa 

6 

October  5 

Germantown    Pa    .    .           

October  7 

October    o    1887 

Washington,   D.   C      

Raleigh,   N.   C  

October  23    1885 

Eubank,    Ky  

October  27    1886 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — At  Englewood,  N.  ].,  the  Oven-bird 
prefers  dry,  rather  open,  deciduous  woods ;  but  it  is  by  no  means  con- 
fined to  them,  being  also  found  in  low,  swampy  forest  lands  with  heavy 
undergrowth.  Passing  most  of  its  time  on  or  near  the  ground,  the 
Oven-bird,  in  spite  of  its  abundance,  would  not  attract  our  notice 
were  it  not  for  its  loud,  frequently  repeated,  unmistakable  song,  and 
its  sharp,  readily  recognizable  chip.  The  bird  utters  this  note  with 
irritating  persistency  as  long  as  one  remains  in  the  vicinity  of  its 
nest;  its  quickly  aroused  suspicions  making  it  by  no  means  easy  to 
study  its  home-life  closely. 

Like  other  members  of  this  genus,  the  Oven-bird  is  a  walker 
but  it  lacks  the  tail-wagging  habit  so  characteristic  of  its  congeners. 
With  tail  often  slightly  raised  and  wings  drooped,  it  steps  daintily  over 
the  leaves  in  its  search  for  food,  stopping  at  times  to  mount  to  the 
lower  tree  branches,  there  to  utter  its  song  with  great  earnestness. 

The  Oven-bird's  nest,  seen  from  above,  is  so  like  the  leaves 
among  which  it  is  placed  that,  as  a  rule,  it  is  found  only  when  a  too 
close  approach  frightens  the  sitting  bird,  who,  slipping  from  her  snug 
home,  trails  pitifully  over  the  leaves  at  one's  feet. 

Morris  Gibbs1  describes  a  courtship  scene  in  which  the  male  Oven- 
bird  flew  singing  above  the  female,  who  was  perched  on  the  ground, 
"describing  every  form  of  flight  except  that  of  regular  sailing;  first 
dashing  through  space  to  the  edge  of  the  glade,  which  was  probably 
twenty  feet  across;  then  rising  to  the  tops  of  the  bushes,  he  would 
flutter,  half  fall  towards  his  prospective  mate.  On  a  sudden  he 


222  OVEN-BIRD 

would  flutter  directly  upward  as  we  often  see  the  English  Sparrow 
or  House  Wren  do,  and  reaching  a  height  of  twenty  feet  or  more, 
dash  about  the  clearing  in  varying  circles,  ever  tending  in  his  flight 
toward  the  object  of  his  extravagant  attention.  She,  in  the  meanwhile, 
sat  silent  and  evidently  interested  in  the  performance.  Suddenly  the 
male  dropped  beside  her,  and  alternately  dashing  and  wheeling  about, 
but  continually  on  the  move  and  always  revolving  about  her,  gave 
evidence  of  his  adoration  by  a  series  of  hops,  dignified  struts,  droop- 
ings  of  the  head  and  tail,  elevation  of  the  wings  and  crest,  which 
would  have  done  credit  to  both  the  Turkey  and  the  Ruffed  Grouse. 
While  on  the  ground,  the  song  was  kept  up  with  the  usual  vigor,  but 
the  interruption  by  the  coarser,  common  notes  was  more  frequent  and 
the  bird  stopped  in  its  struts  in  order  to  utter  the  notes  which 
apparently  caused  him  more  effort  than  did  the  more  beautiful  song. 
The  appearance  of  a  third  party  on  the  scene,  probably  also  a  lover, 
caused  the  first  performer  to  dash  into  the  brush  much  to  my  disap- 
pointment." , 

Song. — Formerly,  singing  Oven-birds  said,  to  my  ear,  with  re- 
markable distinctness  and  decision,  teacher,  teacher,  etc.,  in  the  usual 
crescendo  chant,  but  as  I  now  hear  the  song  the  accent  is  placed  on  the 
last  syllable.  The  call-note  is  a  fine,  small  cheep,  which,  when  one  is 
near  the  bird's  nest  is  uttered  with  irritating  persistence. 

The  Oven-bird's  flight  song  is  one  of  the  remarkable  vocal  per- 
formances among  the  Warblers.  It  is  a  wild  outpouring  of  jumbled 
notes  over  which  the  bird  seems  to  have  no  control  and  is  often  con- 
cluded with  the  common  teacher  song. 

"Widely  and  intimately  known  though  the  Oven-bird  is,  there 
seem  to  be  no  written  accounts  either  of  the  occasional  strange  vag- 
aries of  its  perch-singing,  or  of  the  abundance  and  regularity  of  its 
nocturnal  free-air  flight-singing.  Here  in  southwestern  New  Hamp- 
shire, its  full  flight-song, — delivered  often  from  a  height  of  a  hundred 
or  more  feet  above  the  tree-tops — is  one  of  the  commonest  night-sounds, 
from  early  May  to  September.  Indeed,  we  are  apt  to  hear  Oven- 
birds  singing  high  overhead  the  night  before  their  first  spring  appear- 
ance in  our  daylit  woods,  and  the  same  performance  is  often  the  last 
token  we  have  of  their  presence  in  late  September.  Of  course,  this 
song  is  often  uttered  in  the  daytime,  too, — especially  at  late  afternoon, 
— but  never  so  commonly  as  in  the  moonlit  nights  of  mid-summer. 
Even  on  pitch-dark  nights  it  is  not  uncommon,  but  then  as  a  rule,  the 
birds  don't  go  so  high, — sometimes  singing  fairly  amid  the  tree-top?.. 
This  flight-song  is  a  combination  of  the  usual  Teacher,  teacher,  per- 


OVEN-BIRD 


223 


formance,  uttered  rather  rapidly  and  wildly,  with  a  medley  of  very 
different,  hurried,  warbling  notes.  The  full  utterance  usually  begins 
as  the  bird  poises,  fluttering,  at  its  greatest  height;  and  ends, — 
obscurely,  as  if  smothered  by  the  rushing  air, — as  the  bird  shoots 
downward  with  half-shut  wings  into  the  forest  But  the  perform- 
ance is  often  heralded  by  a  few  sharp,  reduplicated  call-notes,  and 
sometimes  by  a  few  preluding  scraps  of  song  as  the  eager  singer  darts 
upward  from  perch  to  perch  and  launches  himself  into  open  air.  The 
full  flight-song  itself  varies  comparatively  little,  in  my  experience.  The 
regular  perch-song,  too,  Teacher,  teacher,  etc.,  is  far  more  constant 
than  are  those  of  most  Wood  Warblers.  Its  tone-quality  is,  I  believe, 
practically  changeless,  but  its  volume,  speed  and  accentuation  vary 
somewhat.  Often,  for  instance,  it  is  accented  on  the  second  syllable  of 
each  teacher,  instead  of  on  the  first ;  and  the  whole  song  is  sometimes 
uttered  very  softly — almost  in  a  whisper — as  is  the  case  with  most 
bird-songs. 

"Strangest  of  all  the  aberrant  utterances  of  the  Oven-bird  I 
have  ever  heard  was  a  two-minute-long,  practically  unbroken  gush  of 
barely  subdued  flight-song,  delivered  by  a  bird  quietly  perching  about 
twenty  feet  above  the  ground.  This  astonishing  performance  I  wit- 
nessed on  May  5,  1905,  in  a  scrubby  roadside  forest  near  Monadnock's 
northern  base.  Having  finished  one  round  of  his  seeming  endless  carol, 
the  'possessed'  Warbler  changed  his  perch  and  began  again,  but  after 
singing  as  before  for  about  a  minute,  took  wing  and  dashed  off  hori- 
zontally through  the  forest,  singing  as  he  went,  till  he  passed  out  of 
my  hearing.  In  the  course  of  these  three  minutes  of  singing  he  had 
repeated  the  complete  flight-song,  omitting  none  of  the  regular  elabora- 
tions, more  than  thirty  times ;  and  for  the  most  part  there  had  been  no 
apparent  break,  no  moment's  pause,  between  the  repetitions.  Such 
prolonged  swift  singing  would  be  a  remarkable  achievement  for  any 
bird,  and  puts  the  Oven-bird,  potentially  at  least,  very  high  in  the  list 
of  avine  songsters.  That  same  May,  in  the  same  region,  I  heard  three 
other  perfectly  distinct,  surprising  innovations  of  Oven-bird-song. 
One  was  like  the  syllables  Cher-wutchy  wher,  cher  wutchy  wher,  ter- 
cher; — sung  in  a  tone  softer  than  that  of  the  common  teacher  song, 
and  slightly  double-noted.  Another  was  like  Chock,  ter-cher,  chi-wi, 
the  first  note  being  merely  the  common  deeper-toned  call-note, — like 
the  booming  cluck  of  the  Chipmunk, — and  the  others  having  a  nearly 
normal  teacher  tone,  though  decidedly  different  in  form  and  accentua- 
tion, and  delicately  varied  one  from  another.  This  phrase  I  heard 
repeated  many  times,  without  noticeable  change,  and  always  with  the 


224  OVEN-BIRD 

chock  used  as  a  song-note.  The  fourth  kind  of  abnormal  song  was  in 
some  ways  the  most  remarkable  of  all,  inasmuch  as  it  contained  hardly 
a  suggestion  of  any  Oven-bird  notes,  and  was  quite  unrecognizable. 
Nothing  short  of  watching  the  bird  sing,  at  close  range,  and  on  various 
perches,  could  have  convinced  me  of  the  song's  true  authorship. 
Fortunately,  I  had  just  these  essential  opportunities.  There,  on  low 
branches,  walked  and  sat  the  little  orange-crowned  rascal,  singing, 
over  and  over  again,  a  fluid,  warbling  song,  rich-toned  and  sweet, 
though  not  very  loud,  and  lasting  only  about  five  seconds.  It  suggested 
a  Fox  Sparrow  singing  somewhat  in  undertone,  or  a  Purple  Finch 
heard  at  a  little  distance.  But,  taken  all  together,  these  queer  perch- 
sung  performances  are  but  rare  breaks  in  the  abundant  monotony  of 
the  Oven-bird's  regular  singing.  Each  of  those  I  have  described  is  as 
yet  unique  of  its  kind,  in  my  experience"  (Thayer,  MS.} 
Miss  Paddock  sends  the  following  notation  and  writes: 
"The  words  usually  given  for  this  song,  teacher  teacher,  seem  to 
me  to  be  begun  with  the  second  syllable  thus:  cher-tea  cher-tea 
cher-tea." 

h  h  Is     ~r 


pe-chee  pe-chee  pe-chee  pe-chee. 

"Toward  the  end  of  June  the  song  of  this  bird,  which  has  been 
so  constantly  accentuated  through  our  woodlands  for  two  months,  be- 
comes less  frequent,  and  though  heard  into  July,  comparatively  few 
individuals  sing  through  the  month.  In  some  seasons  I  have  missed  it 
after  the  first  week.  *  *  *  July  23  is  my  latest  date. 

"The  second  song-period  occurs  in  August,  and  is  transient  and 
irregular;  with  varying  seasons  shifting  a  little  to  either  side  of  the 
middle  of  the  month"  (Bickncll.} 

Nesting  Site.  —  Norris2  records  a  nest  of  the  Oven-bird  found  at 
Weaverville,  N.  C,  in  the  "end  of  a  large  pine  log,"  but  with  this 
exception  I  know  pi  no  instance  of  the  Oven-bird's  departing  from  its 
habit  of  building  on  the  ground.  The  site  selected  may  be  at  the 
foot  of  a  bush  or  tree  or  simply  among  dead  leaves  in  more  open  spaces. 

"The  wooded  upland,  hillside  or  lowland  are  all  alike  to  this  bird. 
The  nest  is  placed  at  the  foot  of  a  small  bush  or  sprout  of  the  huckle- 
berry, laurel,  dogwood,  chestnut,  sassafras,  blackberry,  or  beside  some 
debris.  I  can  discover  no  particular  significance  in  the  position  of  the 
entrance  in  relation  to  exposure."  (Burns,  MS.} 


OVEN-BIRD  225 

Xest. — The  nest  is  unique  in  shape  among  the  Warblers  and  its 
resemblance  to  an  old  Dutch  oven  has  given  the  bird  its  name.  It  is 
completely  arched  with  a  flattened  roof,  the  entrance  being  at  one  side. 
It  is  composed  largely  of  dried  leaves  and  leaf  skeletons,  with  occasion- 
ally bits  of  moss,  and  is  rather  coarsely  lined  with  grasses,  blossom 
stalks,  etc. 

"Outwardly  the  nest  is  composed  of  dead  grass,  weed-stems, 
and  bushy  heads  of  the  walking  or  tumbling  grass;  wild  grapevine 
bark,  strips  of  chestnut  bark  lining,  dead  and  decayed  leaf  stems  and 
leaves  of  the  chestnut,  oak,  beech,  maple,  cherry,  dogwood  and  hickory, 
principally  the  first  two.  Rarely  bits  of  the  hair  moss  and  small  dead 
twigs  enter  into  the  body  of  the  nest.  The  chief  difference,  however, 
is  in  the  quantity  of  grass  or  leaves.  The  structure  is  lined  sparsely 
with  long  black  horse-hair  in  almost  every  instance.  In  twenty  per 
cent  an  additional  underlining  of  grass  and  weed  stems,  and,  in  one 
instance,  of  grass  stems  alone.  I  have  seen  two  nests  in  which  a  few 
long  white  horse-hairs  appeared  with  the  black,  one  with  a  few  wild 
strawberry  runners,  and  another  in  which  oak  blossoms  were  admixed. 
The  nest  is  usually  arched,  the  substructure  or  nest  proper  is  sunk 
in  the  carpet  of  leaves  to  the  level  of  the  lower  edge  of  the  entrance 
hole.  The  mode  of  construction  does  not  vary  from  the  ordinary  bird 
architecture.  The  outer  framework  of  stems  is  bent  over  and  work 
proceeds  inward  at  which  both  sexes  work  more  or  less.  Any  little 
interference  at  this  stage  often  results  in  the  desertion  of  the  incom- 
pleted  structure.  I  have  observed  the  frail  straw  arch  erected  by 
eleven  A.  M.  and  the  whole  edifice  lined  and  completed  within  two  days. 
The  entrance  measures  1.20-1.70x2.00-2.20  inches,  being  wider  than 
high."  (Burns  MS.) 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  in  even  proportions,  5  being  as  common  a  number 
as  4.  Ground  color  a  rather  glossy  white  to  creamy,  over  which  are 
specks,  spots  and  blotches  of  reddish  brown,  lilac-gray  and  dark  chest- 
nut, with  under  shell  markings  of  lavender  distributed  in  varying 
degrees ;  some  are  handsomely  wreathed  about  large  end  with  scatter- 
ing marks  over  rest  of  egg,  others  have  the  large  end  completely 
covered  with  numerous  spots  and  specks,  while  others  are  quite  evenly 
marked  over  all  the  surface,  but  more  heavily  at  the  large  end.  Size ; 
average,  -79X.63 ;  extremes,  .88x.64,  .68x.55,  .87x.6o,.  (Figs.  87,88.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Weaverville,  N.  C.  May  7- June  I  (C.  W.  C.)', 
West  Chester,  Pa.,  May  2$-June  8  (Jackson)  ;  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May 
15-June  29  (Jacobs)  ;  New  York  City,  May  20- July  5,  two-thirds  incu- 
bated (F.  M.  C.)  ;  Granville,  N.  Y.,  May  15  (J.  P.  N.)  ;  New  Haven, 


226  LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 

Conn.,  May  2O-July  10  (Bishop)  ;  Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  lay- 
ing, May  25-June  5  (Brewster) ;  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  2-June  5 
(Spaulding) ;  Bangor,  Me.,  May  3O-June  9  (Knight)  ;  Listovvel,  Ont., 
May  24-June  26  (Kelts)  ;  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  May  27,  Gibbs  (Bar- 
rows) ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May  lo-june  15  (Jones). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  M.  GIBBS,  Song  of  the  Golden-crowned  Thrush,  Orn.  and  O61.,  X, 
1885,  191.  (2)  J.  P.  N.  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Oven-bird,  Orn.  and 
O61.,  XVII,  1892,  65.  (3)  C.  T.  BUTTERS,  The  Oven-bird  [in  Mass.],  Nidologist, 
III,  1896,  131.  (4)  W.  L.  KELLS,  The  Oven-bird,  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XV,  1002, 
232. 

LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 

SEIURUS  MOTACILLA  (Vieill.)    Plate  XVII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  only  Warbler  with  which  this  species  is 
likely  to  be  confused  is  Seiurus  n.  noveboracensis  and  its  western  form  nota- 
bilis.  It  differs  from  the  former  as  noted  under  that  species,  from  the  latter 
it  may  be  known  by  its  unspotted  throat  and  buffy  flanks.  Length  (skin),  5.60; 
wing,  3.25;  tail,  2.10;  bill,  .55. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Upperparts  olive  or  olive-brown,  the  crown  averaging 
darker  the  upper  tail-coverts  browner;  wings  and  tail  slightly  browner  than 
back  and  without  white  markings,  the  outer  tail-feathers,  however,  are  some- 
times narrowly  tipped  with  whitish ;  a  conspicuous  white  line  from  bill  over 
eye  to  nape;  lower  eye-lid  white;  below  white,  the  flanks  and  crissum,  and 
sometimes  sides  of  breast,  more  or  less  strongly  buff;  dusky  lines  at  sides  of 
throat ;  throat  usually  unmarked,  sometimes  with  a  few  inconspicuous  olive 
tips  to  feathers;  breast  and  sides  heavily  streaked  with  the  color  of  the  back. 

Adult  £,  Fall. — Not  distinguishable,  as  a  rule,  from  adult  <?  in  Spring  but 
with  the  buff  of  underparts  averaging  deeper. 

Young  <£  Fall. — Not  distinguishable  from  adult  c?  in  Fall. 

Adult  and  young  $. — Resemble  c?  in  plumage. 

Nestling. — Above  sooty  olive-brown,  a  white  superciliary  stripe,  conspicu- 
ous behind,  faint  before,  the  eye;  breast  and  sides  streaked  with  blackish,  sides 
and  crissum  washed  with  buff;  wings  and  tail  as  in  adult  but  wing-coverts 
tipped  with  rusty. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New 
England  and  Minnesota ;  west  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  Louisiana  Water-Thrush  breeds  through- 
out its  range  in  the  United  States,  which  extends  north  to  Massachu- 
setts (Sheffield,  June  n,  1896;  Springfield,  July  28,  1895;  Mount  Tom, 
April  28,  1869;  Leveritt,  May  18,  1871;  Amherst,  July  12,  1886). 
New  York  (Lake  George,  May  8,  1877,  and  May  16,  1881),  Ontario 
(Toronto,  London,  Guelph),  Michigan  (Detroit),  Wisconsin  (Del- 
avan,  May  18,  1900;  Milwaukee  County,  April  25,  1897,  Lake  Kosh- 
konong),  and  Minnesota  (Red  Wing). 


PLATE  XVII 


1.  Rio  GRANDE  YELLOW-THROAT,  MALE.  3.  OVENBIRD,  ADULT. 

2.  Rio  GRANDE  YELLOW-THROAT,  FEMALE.  4.  LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH,  ADULT. 

5.  NORTHERN  WATER-THRUSH,  ADULT. 
(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 


227 


Its  western  range  is  found  in  eastern  Nebraska  (Lincoln,  Bea- 
trice), eastern  Kansas' (Manhattan,  Onaga)  and,  sparingly,  in  eastern 
Texas  (Boerne)  ;  accidental  in  Maine  (Norway,  1865,  Waterville, 
May,  1865). 

Winter  Range. —  Mexico  to  Colombia,  South  America;  most  of 
the  West  Indies  and  the  Bahamas. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic   Coast  — 

March    8,  1887 

Mt    Pleasant    S    C             

March  21,  1904 

Raleigh    N    C                   

II 

March  31 

March  26,  1889 

Asheville    N   C    (near)    

5 

March  28 

March  25,  1894 

French  Creek    W   Va    

4 

April    3 

March  27,  1890 

Washington    D    C 

C 

April  II 

April    2,  1905 

Waynesburg    Pa     

4 

April  13 

April    8,  1894 

Englewood   N    T 

7 

April  17 

April  14,  1886 

7 

April  23 

April  n,  1901 

3 

April  17 

April  13,  1892 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans    La               

April    2,  1898 

9 

March  27 

March  24,  1889 

St    Louis    Mo              .    .  '.  

6 

April    8 

March  29,  1884 

Waterloo    Ind          

5 

April    7 

April    5,  1893 

Oberlin,    Ohio    

4 

April  14 
April  17 

March  28,  1904 
April    4,  1890 

April  22 

April  18,  1887 

Fall  Migration — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Lanesboro,  Minn        

•j 

August  3 

August  26    1888 

Renovo,  Pa  

6 

September  8 

September  30    1903 

Englewood,  N.  J  
French  Creek,  W.  Va  

October  2,  1885 
October  7,  1890 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  shy,  elusive  creature  seems  to 
me  more  like  some  untameable  spirit  of  the  woods  than  a  bird.  Cau- 
tiously we  may  follow  his  sharp,  decisive  call  or  wild,  ringing,  almost 
startling  song,  through  the  luxuriant  undergrowth  only  to  hear  them 
repeated  from  some  point  far  ahead  or  even  behind  us ;  and,  if  by 
good  fortune,  we  should  get  a  glimpse  of  his  nervously  teetered  body, 
before  we  have  time  for  one  satisfactory  look  he  is  off — not  to  the 
cover  of  the  nearby  bushes,  but  on  a  low,  darting  flight  that  takes 
him  speedily  out  of  sight. 


228  LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 

The  Water-Thrush  inhabits  not  only  watered  bottom-land  forests, 
where  moss-covered  logs  and  rank  undergrowth  give  an  almost  tropi- 
cal character  to  the  surroundings,  but  is  also  found  on  hillside  and 
mountain  streams  where  the  woods  are  more  open  below.  Always, 
however,  he  requires  water,  and  his  food  is  largely  secured  from  the 
shores  of  streams  or  muddy  banks  of  pools.  Even  when  at  ease  the 
bird  seems  controlled  by  a  sense  of  restlessness,  and  not  only  when 
walking,  but  when  perching,  constantly  teeters  its  body.  Both  the 
movement  and  the  bird  itself  suggest  the  Dipper  (Cinclus)  but  the 
Dipper  is  more  of  a  bobber,  the  whole  body  moving  from  the  knees, 
while  the  Water-Thrush  is  a  tilter  or  teeterer,  its  longer  tail  accent- 
uating this  type  of  motion. 

Allison  (MS.)  writes  that  the  typical  breeding  haunt  of  the 
Louisiana  Water-Thrush  in  Mississippi,  "is  the  bank  of  a  clear,  run- 
ning stream,  flowing  over  white  sand  and  pebbles ;  the  smaller  streams 
are  generally  chosen,  but  creeks  and  small  rivers  are  not  without  their 
Water-Thrushes.  The  southern  limit  of  its  breeding  range  seems  to 
be  determined  by  the  presence  of  such  streams,  and  therefore  probably 
does  not  extend  to  the  Gulf  coast." 

Song. — In  recent  years  I  have  been  impressed  with  the  similarity 
between  the  song  of  this  species  and  that  of  Dendroica  dominica.  The 
song  of  Seiurus  is  louder  and  wilder  but  as  sung  by  the  individuals 
which  have  come  to  my  attention  it  is  less  musical  than  that  of 
dominica  which  lacks  the  concluding  twitter  characteristic  of  the 
Water-Thrush  song.  The  flight-song  of  this  species  is  a  thrilling 
performance  which  carries  the  bird  above  the  tree-tops  in  uncon- 
trollable musical  ecstacy.  The  call-note  resembles  that  of  Seiurus 
noveboracensis  but  to  my  ear  is  slightly  louder. 

William  Brewster  describes  the  song  of  this  species  as  "somewhat 
like  that  of  5*.  noveboracensis,  being  quite  as  loud,  almost  as  rapid, 
and  commencing  in  nearly  the  same  way  but  lacking  the  beautiful 
crescendo  termination,  and  altogether,  a  less  fine  performance.  Repre- 
sented by  words  it  would  be  nearly  as  follows:  pseur,  pseur,  per  see 
serr 

"The  call-note  is  not  distinguishable  from  that  of  S.  novebora- 
censis. The  song— uttered,  it  seems,  only  at  the  breeding-ground  in 
the  breeding  season — is  remarkably  fine,  being  very  loud,  clear,  and 
far-reaching.  It  is  generally  uttered  from  a  perch  very  near,  or  over, 
the  water, — not  from  the  ground."  (Allison,  MS.} 

"The  song  varies  a  good  deal.  May  11,  1897,  I  heard  a  song  of 
eight  notes  as  follows:  first  two  low,  next  two  high,  then  four  low,  and 


LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH  229 

more  rapid.  On  April  20,  1902,  I  heard  a  song  which,  except  for  the 
three  opening  notes,  I  never  would  have  recognized.  The  first  three 
notes  were  the  usual  clear,  piercing,  Water-Thursh  notes ;  but  the  rest 
was  an  intricate  jumble  of  fine  notes  far  softer,  and  of  an  entirely 
different  quality.  This  song  was  repeated  several  times.  On  May  14, 
1904,  I  heard  a  song  consisting  of  three  notes,  wee-wee-zvee,  then  whit- 
chee,  whit-chee,  followed  by  a  confused  and  less  loud  jumble." 
(Farwell,  MS.} 

Nesting  Site. — The  nest  is  placed  in  the  bank  of  a  stream  or 
among  the  upturned  roots  of  a  fallen  tree. 

"The  nest  is  placed  in  a  little  nook  in  the  bank,  usually  a  hole 
scraped  out  by  the  bird,  from  one  to  six  feet  above  running  water." 
(Burtch,  MS.) 

Nest. — The  nest  is  generally  a  loosely  made  bulky  structure  filling 
the  cavity  or  niche  in  which  it  is  placed,  and  externally  is  composed 
largely  of  dried  leaves,  coarse  grasses,  and  rootlets,  with  often  bits  of 
moss ;  the  lining  consists  chiefly  of  coarse  grasses.  "The  nest  is  made 
on  a  mat  of  dead  leaves,  moss,  and  dead  grass,  lined  with  rootlets,  dead 
grass  or  dead  pine  leaves.  I  have  sometimes  found  a  few  hemlock 
twigs  in  the  nest.  May  21,  1899,  I  saw  a  male  feeding  the  female 
which  was  sitting  on  five  eggs  two  of  which  were  just  hatching." 
(Burtch,  MS.} 

Eggs. — 4  to  6  usually  5,  rarely  4  or  6;  in  a  carefully  selected 
series  of  45  sets,  4  are  of  6  eggs  each,  35  of  5  and  the  balance  of  4. 
Ground  color  white  to  creamy  white ;  the  markings  vary  greatly,  many 
shades  of  chestnut-brown,  cinnamon-rufous,  lilac-gray,  with  lavender 
under  shell  markings,  which  are  distributed  over  the  egg  in  all  manner 
of  specks,  spots,  blotches  and  conglomerate  masses  either  in  a  zone, 
wreath  or  solid  mass  of  spots  on  large  end ;  the  rest  of  the  egg  is  well 
marked  also,  but  the  spots  become  fewer  and  less  decided  toward  the 
small  end.  Size;  average,  77x.6i ;  extremes,  .84X.65,  72X.58.  (Figs. 
92-94.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Walke,  N.  C,  April  22 ;  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May 
5,  five  eggs  on  point  of  hatching- June  8,  last  date  for  eggs  of  first  lay- 
ing (Jacobs)  ;  New  York  City,  May  n  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  Branchport,  N.  Y., 
May  6- July  i  (Burtch)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  6-June  10  (Bishop)  ; 
Oberlin,  O.,  April  15-June  10  (Jones)  ;  Lake  Co.,  Illinois,  June  n 
(Ganlt)  ;  Petersburg,  Mich.,  May  5,  Trombly  (Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Some  Observations  on  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County, 
West  Virginia,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.,  XI,  1875,  136;  (2)  Nesting  of  the  Large- 
billed  Water-Thrush,  (in  Indiana),  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  III,  1878,  133.  (3) 


230  NORTHERN   WATER-THRUSH 

F.  T.  JENKS,  Large-billed  Water-Thrush,  [in  R.  I.],  Orn.  and  O61.,  VII,  1882, 
114.  (4)  J.  N.  CLARK,  Large-billed  Water-Thrush,  (in  Conn.),  Orn.  and  O61., 
VII,  1882,  145.  (5)  R.  B.  M'LAUGHLIN,  Nesting  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush, 
[in  Nor.  Car.],  Orn.  and  O61.,  XII,  1887,  174-  (See  also  Brimley,  Ibid.,  XIV, 
169.).  (6)  J.  P.  N.  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Louisiana  Water-Thrush, 
Orn.  and  O61.,  XV,  1890,  S3- 

NORTHERN  WATER-THRUSH 

SEIURUS  NOVEBORACENSIS  NOVEBORACENSIS  (Gmel.)    PUteXVIl 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  uniform  dark  olive  upperparts,  including 
the  wings  and  tail,  which  are  without  white  markings,  yellowish  or  buffy  yellow 
line  over  the  eye,  sulphur  yellow,  heavily  streaked  underparts  are  the  principal 
distinguishing  marks  of  this  species.  From  Seiurus  motacilla  it  may  be  known 
by  its  usually  yellowish  or  buffy,  instead  of  distinctly  white  superciliary  line, 
its  sulphur  yellow  underparts  streaked  with  black,  not  with  olive  or  blackish, 
and  its  spotted  throat.  Length  (skin),  5.25;  wing,  2.95;  tail,  2.05;  bill,  .50. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Upperparts,  wings  and  tail  olive  or  olive-brown;  outer 
tail-feathers  rarely  with  white  at  tips;  forehead  with  a  more  or  less  faint 
whitish  or  buffy  median  line;  a  conspicuous  yellowish  whitish,  or  buffy  line 
from  bill  over  eye  to  nape;  underparts  quite  uniformly  sulphur  yellow,  the 
throat,  breast  and  sides  streaked  with  black,  the  flanks  washed  with  the  color 
of  the  back. 

Adult  £,  Fall— Practically  indistinguishable  from  the  adult  <3  in  Spring  but 
the  superciliary  line  averages  buffier. 

Young  (?,  Fall. — Not  distinguishable  from  the  adult  <$  in  Fall. 

Adult  and  young  ?. — Resemble  <$  in  plumage. 

Nestling. — Above  olive-brown  tipped  with  rusty  and  obscurely  spotted  with 
black;  a  yellowish  superciliary  line;  below   sulphur  yellow,  throat,  breast  and 
sides  heavily  streaked  with  black  and  with   more  or  less  rusty  wash ;   wings 
and  tail  much  as  in  adult  but  wing-coverts  tipped  with  rusty. 
General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America. 
Summer  Range. — Maine,  northern  New  Hampshire  (Lake  Um- 
bagog,  Ossipee,  Dublin),  northern  Vermont   (Burlington),  Pennsyl- 
vania (Gearneld,  Crawford,  Qinton,  Elk,  Cambria,  Center  and  Lycom- 
ing    Counties),    mountains    of    West    Virginia,    southern    Michigan 
southern  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  (Red  Wing). 

Winter  Range. — Florida  southward  through  the  West  Indies, 
Central  America,  and  northern  South  America. 

Spring  Migration. — The  more  western  records  refer  to  the  western 
form  of  this  bird.  (See  page  231.) 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — When,  during  the  migrations,  a 
Water-Thrush  is  seen  in  one's  garden  or  some  other  locality  quite 
unlike  the  normal  haunts  of  the  species,  one  may  be  reasonably  sure 
that  it  is  this  species  rather  than  Seiurus  motacilla.  The  former,  in 
my  experience,  is  at  all  times  less  shy  and  retiring  and  may  be  observed 
at  short  range  by  the  exercise  of  a  little  caution. 


NORTHERN   WATER-THRUSH 
Spring  Migration. — 


231 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years 
recorc 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Raleigh,   N    C 

3 

April  24 

April  1  8   1894 

Washington    D    C 

c 

April  30 

April  24    1904 

Germantown,    Pa 

May      6 

May      4    1888 

Renovo,    Pa     .         .  .         

May      6 

May      i    1897 

Portland     Conn. 

May      5 

May      i    1891 

Boston,  Mass    

May      8 

May      2    1896 

Southern    New    Hampshire    
Southern   Maine   

4 
6 

May      7 
May     10 

May      3,  1902 
May      7,  1902 

Quebec,  Can  

6 

May      7 

May      2,  1902 

Scotch  Lake    N    B 

6 

May    12 

May      6    1905 

Lake  Mistassini   Que 

May     19    1885 

Hamilton  River,  Labrador   

Missisisppi  River  — 
St.  Louis,  Mo  

6 

March  27 

May    31 
April  21    1883 

Waterloo,   Ind  

April  26 

April  23    1886 

Oberlin,    Ohio  

7 

April  29 

April  26    1904 

Listowel    Ont 

April  28 

April  25    1896 

Guelph    Ont 

g 

April  28    1905 

Parry  Sound  District    Ont 

Mav      s 

May      2    1897 

Ottawa    Ont 

May    10 

Mav      8   iocs 

Detroit,    Mich 

6 

May      2 

April  28    1886 

Southern  Wisconsin 

g 

May      2 

April  27    1901 

Keokuk,   la 

5 

Mav      T 

April  w    1805 

Lanesboro,  Minn          

Mav      ^ 

April  30    1890 

Northwestern  Minnesota 

May      6 

May      3    1890 

Aweme,   Man     .... 

Mav      o 

May      7    1896 

Minneapolis,   Minn    

Mav    !*> 

May    12    1902 

Fort  Simpson,  Mackenzie  
Columbia  Falls,  Mont 

3 

May    19 
May    20 

May     14,  1904 
May    1  8,  1895 

Fall  Migration.- 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Earliest  date  of 
first  one  seen 

Shelter  Island    N    Y 

August  1  6 

August  ii,  1896 

Englewood    N    J 

August  14 

August    8,  1897 

Washington,  D    C 

A 

August    5 

July  28,  1889 

Raleigh,  N    C 

\ 

August  ii 

July  29,  1893 

Mount  Pleasant,  S   C 

July  27,  1897 

PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Lanesboro,  Minn 

September  22 

September  24,  1889 

Ottawa,  Ont  

2 

September  16 

September  17,  1891 

Chicago,  111  

8 

September  20 

October  i,  1895 

Detroit,  Mich  

6 

September  26 

October  8,  1905 

Renovo,  Pa  

4 

October  3 

October  5,  1902 

Raleigh,  N.  C  

6 

October  I 

October  6,  1894 

232  NORTHERN   WATER-THRUSH 

I  recall  a  Northern  Water-Thrush  which  boarded  a  steamer  on 
which  I  was  sailing  from  Tampico,  Mexico,  to  Havana,  when  we  were 
about  midway  between  these  two  points.  The  bird,  apparently  quite 
at  home,  hopped  about  the  steamer's  deck,  entered  the  Captain's  cabin, 
as  though  to  examine  the  charts,  and  when  we  approached  the  coast 
of  Cuba,  disappeared,  doubtless  resuming  its  more  northern  flight. 

Brewster8  says  that  at  Cambridge  they  never  fail  to  visit  his 
garden  in  "both  spring  and  autumn,  occurring  there  most  numerously 
in  August,  when  I  have  known  as  many  as  six  or  seven  to  be  present 
at  one  time.  We  meet  with  them  oftenest  and  most  abundantly,  how- 
ever, in  dense  thickets  covering  swampy  or,  at  least,  very  low,  damp 
ground,  usually  not  far  from  water.  In  the  Fresh  Pond  swamps  and 
along  the  willow-shaded  causeway  that  crosses  Rock  Meadow,  they 
literally  swarm  for  days  in  succession  at  the  height  of  the  spring  mi- 
gration. The  loud,  rapid,  musical  songs  of  the  males  may  then  be 
heard  coming  from  several  directions  at  once,  and  the  birds  be  seen 
darting  from  thicket  to  thicket  or  walking  demurely  about  the  edges 
of  shallow  pools,  tilting  their  tails  incessantly." 

Gerald  Thayer  (MS.)  writes:  "This  brilliant  songster  of  the 
wilderness  is  a  local  and  uncommon  summer  resident  about  Monad- 
nock's  northern  base  haunting  some  of  the  deep  woodland  bogs  where 
Parulas  are  commonest,  and  the  borders  of  a  few  big  brooks  in  the 
heavier  and  drier  forest.  Like  the  Oven-bird  and  the  Louisiana  Water- 
Thrush,  it  is  for  the  most  part  a  ground  bird  and  a  walker.  Its  nest 
I  have  never  seen,  though  I've  spent  many  midsummer  afternoons, 
mosquito-tortured,  in  its  nesting  places,  watching  it  trip  about  among 
black  puddles,  and  hearing  its  vivid  sudden  song.  Though  our  bird 
is  less  shy  than  the  southern  kind,  it  is,  in  my  experience,  out  and 
away  the  shyest  Warbler  of  the  North  Woods." 

Song. — The  Water-Thrush  is  one  of  the  notable  musicians  among 
the  Warblers.  While  its  song  lacks  the  ringing  wildness  of  that  of 
Seiurus  motacilla  I  have  come  to  agree  with  the  opinion  quoted  from 
William  Brewster  under  that  species,  that  noveboracensis  is  the  finer 
singer  of  the  two. 

The  sharp,  steely  alarm-note,  clink,  is  perhaps  not  quite  so  pene- 
trating as  the  essentially  similar  call  of  Seiurus  motacilla.  So  far  as 
my  experience  goes  the  Prothonotary  is  the  only  other  Warbler  with 
a  similar  call-note. 

"At  its  best  the  song  of  this  species  is  not  quite  so  fine,  perhaps, 
as  that  of  Seiurus  motacilla — it  is  very  different,  and  has  a  rare  grace 
and  vigor  of  its  own.  Like  the  Oven-bird  the  Northern  Water- 


NORTHERN  WATER-THRUSH  233 

Thrush  makes  up  for  a  great  general  regularity  of  singing  by  an  occa- 
sional wide  lapse  into  variation.  Its  flight-song,  a  performance  rela- 
tively far  less  common  than  the  Oven-bird's  (?),  seems  to  be  nearly 
changeless.  It  is  like  the  common  perch-song,  but  quicker  and 
longer,  and  'framed'  in  a  hurried  jumble  of  half -call-half -song  notes; 
— the  whole  delivered  as  the  bird  dashes  horizontally  through  or 
barely  above  the  woods.  Most  notable  among  the  few  important  vari- 
ations of  its  perch-song  I  have  heard  was  a  long,  liquid  strain  seem- 
ingly made  up  of  at  least  three  united  repetitions  of  the  regular  utter- 
ances, going  unusually  fast,  in  a  thinner  tone,  and  intersprinkled  with 
sharp  notes  of  'chippering,'  unlike  the  common  call-notes.  The  typi- 
cal perch-song  itself  is  hard  to  describe  in  words.  A  ringing,  bubbling 
warble,  swift  and  emphatic,  made  up  of  two  parts,  barely  divided,  the 
second  lower-toned  and  diminuendo.  The  common  call-note  is  a 
ringing  chip,  somewhat  less  loud  and  emphatic  than  that  of  the  Louisi- 
ana Water-Thrush,  but  more  so  than  that  of  any  other  ( ?)  northern 
Warbler."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Nesting  Site. — The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground  among  the  roots 
of  an  upturned  tree,  in  cavities  under  stumps,  in  the  side  of  a  bank,  or 
in  similar  situations. 

"The  typical  nest  is  placed  at  the  base  of  an  ash  or  elm  tree  in 
the  thick  moss,  close  in  a  crotch  between  the  roots  or  where  a  root 
projects  out  leaving  a  cavity  under  it,  also  at  the  base  of  moss-covered 
stumps  usually  but  a  few  inches  above  the  water.  A  nest  found  May 
22,  1904,  was  at  base  of  a  moss-covered  stump,  and  there  was  a  Song 
Sparrow's  nest  two  feet  above  in  the  same  stump.  A  nest  found 
May  22,  1903,  was  under  a  moss-covered  log  and  could  not  be  seen 
without  getting  down  on  my  knees."  (Burtch,  MS.} 

Nest. — Nests  from  Maine  are  externally  composed  almost  wholly 
of  a  green  moss  with  a  slight  admixture  of  bits  of  leaves,  grasses,  bark, 
or  twigs,  and  are  thickly  enough  lined  with  the  brown  blossom  stalk 
of  a  species  of  moss,  to  make  the  color  of  the  interior  contrast  strongly 
with  that  of  the  exterior. 

"The  nests  are  made  entirely  of  moss  with  the  moss  blossom  stems 
for  lining,  so  are  not  easy  to  find  as  they  look  to  be  part  of  the  moss 
in  which  they  are  imbedded."  (Burtch,  MS.) 

Eggs. — Usually  4  or  5,  about  evenly  divided.  Ground  color 
creamy  white,  specked,  spotted  and  blotched  with  cinnamon-rufous, 
hazel  and  lavender  gray,  more  or  less  inclining  to  wreathe  about  the 
large  end,  though  in  some  cases  the  markings  combine  to  almost  cover 
the  large  end,  over  rest  of  egg  the  markings  are  quite  profuse  but 


234  GRINNELL'S  WATER-THRUSH 

never  very  close  together ;  one  extreme  set  of  five  eggs  show  the  wreath 
about  the  small  end.  Size;  average,  .77x.6o,  extremes,  .8ix.6i,  73X.58, 
74X.63.  (Figs.  89-91.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Branchport,  N.  Y.,  May  i8-May  30  (Burtch)  ; 
Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  9,  full-grown  young  following  parents  (Spauld- 
ing)  ;  Pittsfield,  Me.,  May  28-June  9,  young  about  two  weeks  old. 
(Knight);  Listowel,  Ont.,  May  2o-June  10  (Kells). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  Some  Canadian  Warblers,  Ottawa  Naturalist, 
XV,  1902,  228.  (2)  J.  M.  SWAIN,  Contributions  to  the  Life-History  of  the 
Water-Thrush,  Journ.  Me.  Orn.  Soc.,  VI,  1904,  70.  (3)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds 
of  the  Cambridge  Region,  349. 

GRINNELL'S  WATER-THRUSH 

SEIURUS  NOVEBORACENSIS  NOTABILIS    Rid«w. 

Subspecffic  Characters. — Similar  to  S.  noveboracensis  noveboracensis, 
but  larger,  bill  longer,  upperparts  darker,  less  olive;  line  over  eye  and  the 
underparts  whiter.  Wing,  3.10;  tail,  2.20;  bill,  .52. 

General  Distribution. — Interior  of  North  America  northwest  to 
Alaska,  southeast  to  Florida. 

Summer  Range. — Western  Nebraska  (Sioux  City),  northern 
Minnesota  northwest  to  Alaska,  west  to  British  Columbia.  The 
western  line  of  the  district  in  which  the  species  is  common  dur- 
ing migration  is  found  from  Nebraska  southward  at  the  edge  of  the 
Plains;  to  the  westward  it  has  been  taken  casually  in  Arizona  (near 
Camp  Crittenden,  August  1874;  Catalina  Mountains,  September  2, 
1884;  Tucson,  May  4,  1881 ;  Huachuca  Mountains,  August  31,  1903), 
Colorado  (Denver  May  12,  1873;  Fort  Lyon,  May  6,  1886;  Boulder, 
May  14,  1904),  Wyoming  (Lake  Como,  May  10,  1878;  Cheyenne,  Fort 
Bridger),  Utah  (Lower  Santa  Clara  Valley,  May  11,  1891),  Idaho 
(Hellgate),  Washington  (Camp  Moogie). 

In  migration  occurs  eastward  casually  to  New  Jersey,  District  of 
Columbia,  and  more  commonly  in  the  southeastern  Atlantic  States. 

Winter  Range. — The  West  Indies,  Mexico,  Central  America  and 
northern  South  America. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  western  form  of  the  Water- 
Thrush  resembles  in  habits  the  closely  related  Northern  Water-Thrush. 
Nelson  says  that  in  Alaska  it  is  abundant  in  the  interior  as  well 
as  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon,  "in  fact,  is  one  of  the  most  common 
bush-frequenting  birds  throughout  the  entire  fur  countries,  extending 
north  even  beyond  tree  limit." 


KENTUCKY  WARBLER  235 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Grinnell's  Water-Thrush  (in  British  Columbia),  Nidolo- 
gist,  I,  1894,  42,  58.  (2)  E.  W.  NELSON,  Report  on  Nat.  Hist.  Coll.  made  in 
Alaska,  204  (the  bird  is  given  as  Seiurus  noveboracensis). 

Genus  OPORORNIS  Baird 

Compared  with  Geothlypis,  Oporornis  (taking  0.  agilis  as  the 
type)  has  the  wing  much  longer  and  more  pointed,  the  tail  decidedly 
less  rounded.  The  wing  is  at  least  three  and  a  half,  instead  of  two  and 
three-fourths  times  as  long  as  the  tarsus,  the  outer  primary  is  usually 
the  longest,  the  outer  tail-feathers  are  but  little  the  shortest,  the  hind- 
toe  is  as  long  as  its  claw. 

While  admitting  the  characters  which  distinguish  Oporornis  agilis 
from  Geothlypis  most  systematists  have  treated  Oporornis  as  a  sub- 
genus  of  Geothlypis  because  of  the  existence  of  several  species  pos- 
sessing intermediate  characters.  The  attempt,  however,  to  force 
Oporornis  into  Geothlypis  negatives  any  description  emphasizing  the 
well-marked  structural  features  which  prevail  in  that  genus  and,  at 
the  same  time,  prevents  the  proper  description  of  the  generic  char- 
acters which  distinguish  Oporornis.  It  seems  desirable,  therefore,  to 
recognize  both  genera  and  to  place  the  intermediate  species  with  those 
forms  to  which  they  appear  to  be  most  nearly  related.  Of  these  inter- 
mediate species  the  Kentucky  Warbler  has  invariably  been  placed  in 
Oporornis,  while  the  Mourning  and  Macgillivray's  Warbler  have 
usually  been  grouped  with  Geothlypis.  Mr.  Ridgway,  however,  on  the 
basis  of  their  general  coloration,  more  pointed  wing  and  longer  outer 
primary,  includes  them  in  Oporornis  and  I  have  little  doubt  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  his  decision. 

Under  this  ruling  the  genus  contains  four  species,  three  of  which 
are  eastern  and  one  western  in  its  distribution. 

KENTUCKY  WARBLER 

OPORORNIS  FORMOSUS  (Wils.)     Plate  XVIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  Kentucky  Warbler  may  always  be  known 
by  its  entirely  yellow  underparts,  absence  of  white  in  wings  and  tail,  yellow 
line  over  the  eye,  black  or  blackish  on  crown  and  sides  of  throat.  Length 
(skin),  5.00;  wing,  2.65;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .45. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  black  more  or  less  tipped  with  ashy,  line  over 
and  around  back  of  eye  yellow,  rest  of  upperparts,  wings  and  tail  olive-green, 
outer  vane  of  outer  primary  grayish,  bend  of  wing  yellow ;  underparts  from 
chin  to  crisstim  bright  yellow,  lores,  cheeks  and  band  at  side  of  throat  black. 


236  KENTUCKY   WARBLER 

Adult  d,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d  in  Spring  but  gray  edgings  to  crown 
feathers  wider  and  more  numerous,  black  at  sides  of  throat  tipped  with  yel- 
lowish. 

Young  d,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  d  in  Fall  but  crown  more  heavily  tipped, 
tips  browner,  black  areas  less  pronounced. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  d  in  Spring  but  generally  duller,  black 
areas  blackish  or  only  dusky  and  more  heavily  tipped,  tips  brownish  or  olive. 

Adult  $  and  Young  $,  Fall. — I  have  no  Fall  females  with  both  age  and  sex 
accurately  determined.  The  material  at  hand,  however,  indicates  a  difference 
in  females  taken  at  that  season  similar  to  that  observed  in  the  male. 

Nestling.— Resembling  nestling  of  G.  trichas;  the  greater  and  median  wing- 
coverts  are  like  the  back  and  are  tipped  with  rusty. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  New 
York  and  Minnesota;  west  almost  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  Kentucky  Warbler  is  a  forest  lover  and 
makes  its  chief  home  in  the  heaviest  timbered  regions  and  dark,  damp 
woods  of  the  central  Mississippi  Valley.  Eastward  it  breeds  more  or 
less  locally  from  North  Carolina  to  the  lower  Hudson  Valley  (Sing 
Sing,  Pleasantville)  and  to  Pennsylvania  (Chester,  Delaware,  and 
Beaver  Counties)  ;  occurs  casually  north  to  Connecticut  (Sufneld, 
August  1 6,  1876,  Lyme). 

There  is  a  single  record  of  its  breeding  in  South  Carolina 
(Caesar's  Head)  and  four  records  of  its  occurence  during  migration 
in  Florida.  The  Kentucky  Warbler  is  common  in  the  state  from  which 
it  takes  its  name,  and  in  the  watershed  of  the  Ohio  River  and  its 
tributaries.  It  is  uncommon  north  of  this  region,  but  is  found  as  far  as 
Lake  Erie — accidental  in  Quebec,  southern  Ontario  (near  London. 
May,  1898),  southern  Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin  (Racine,  May  10, 
1851,  Lake  Koshkonong)  and  southern  Minnesota. 

The  western  limit  of  its  range  is  reached  in  southeastern- Nebraska 
(Omaha,  Lincoln,  Peru)  and  thence  through  eastern  Kansas  (Leaven- 
worth,  Atchison,  Manhattan)  to  eastern  Texas  (Navarro  County, 
San  Antonio;  in  migration  at  Corpus  Christi). 

Though  not  uncommon  in  favorable  localities  along  the  streams 
of  these  states,  it  is  not  nearly  so  abundant  as  in  the  Ohio  Valley. 

It  breeds  principally  below  an  elevation  of  1,000  feet,  but  at  Ashe- 
ville,  N.  C.,  it  breeds  at  2,000  feet  altitude,  and  has  been  noted  up  to 
3,500  feet. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  Mexico  to  Colombia,  South  America. 
Accidental  in  the  West  Indies. 

Fall  Migration. — The  southward  movement  begins  the  last  of 
July,  and  on  October  7  the  species  has  been  taken  at  the  extreme 
southern  limit  of  its  known  range  in  Colombia,  South  America.  Some 


PLATE  XVIII 


1.  KENTUCKY  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  KENTUCKY  WAKBLER,  FEMALE. 


3.  CONNECTICUT  WARBLER,  MALE. 

4.  CONNECTICUT  WARBLER,  FEMAL 


KENTUCKY  WARBLER 


237 


records  of  the  latest  observations  are  at  Berwyn,  Pa.,  September  4, 
1896;  Beaver,  Pa.,  September  13,  1888;  Cadiz,  Ohio,  September  23, 
1900;  Eubank,  Ky.,  September  6,  1888;  Raleigh,  N.  C,  September 
12,  1894;  New  Orleans,  La.,  October  19,  1895. 

Spring  Migration. — 


PlyACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

April    6,  1886 

6 

April    7 

April     i,  1896 

Asheville    N    C    (near)         

3 

April  21 

April  18,  1894 

Raleigh   N    C                      

7 

May      i 

Washington    D    C 

4 

May      2 

April  30    1905 

Beaver    Pa 

2 

May      i 

April  30    1902 

May      i    1892 

6 

May      7 

May      3    1900 

New  Orleans   La 

April     i 

March  30    1895 

Helena    Ark                                     

8 

April  20 

April  15,  1896 

April  21 

April  15,  1893 

St   Louis   Mo                           

April  24 

April  21    1886 

4 

May      6 

April  20,  1896 

Keokuk    la                  

4 

May      7 

April  26,  1898 

San  Antonio    Texas   

e 

April  14 

April    8,  1890 

Northern  Texas   

7 

April  15 
Mav      ^ 

April  26    1896 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — My  own  experience  with  this  Warbler, 
which  in  habits  suggests  both  the  Yellow-throat  (trichas~)  and  Oven- 
bird,  is  confined  to  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson  River,  at  Englewood, 
N.  J.  Here,  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Palisades,  in  moist  woods 
with  a  fairly  heavy  undergrowth,  it  is  not  uncommon,  though  it  is 
virtually  unknown  in  the  apparently  favorable  woods  growing  in  the 
valleys  to  the  west.  During  the  nesting  season,  the  loud,  musical  song 
of  the  male  readily  betrays  his  whereabouts,  and  one  may  watch  it 
with  ease  as  it  frequently  utters  its  notes  from  a  perch  at  a  height  of 
twenty  feet  or  thereabouts,  descending  at  intervals  to  walk  about  on 
the  ground  and  search  for  food. 

At  Berwyn,  Pennsylvania,  Burns  (MS.)  writes:  "The  Kentucky 
Warbler  is  usually  one  of  our  commonest  summer  residents,  though 
apt  to  be  rather  irregular  in  abundance  now  and  then.  During  the 
season  of  1897,  it  became  abundant,  falling  off  to  about  half  the 
number  the  following  year.  It  is  here  an  inhabitant  of  the  overgrown 
clearings,  swampy  thickets,  and  the  borders  of  woodland;  a  bird  of 
the  south,  loving  the  luxuriant  undergrowths  of  spicewood,  ferns, 
mandrake,  skunk  cabbage,  and  other  shade-loving  plants  of  rank 
growth. 


238  KENTUCKY   WARBLER 

"It  is  very  cunning  in  the  concealment  of  its  home,  usually  run- 
ning quietly  from  the  nest  before  the  intruder  is  within  ten  or  twenty 
feet,  protesting  as  it  becomes  visible  at  a  safe  distance,  and  as  it  seems 
always  to  be  chipping  around,  significance  cannot  always  be  attached 
to  its  actions.  When  the  mate  appears  the  object  of  their  suspicions 
may  be  circled  at  a  safe  distance  from  bush  to  bush  and  bush  to 
ground,  several  times  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour,  and  then  one  bird 
may  slip  unseen  to  the  nest,  while  the  other  lingers  a  little  longer  to 
keep  up  the  deception,  retiring  at  last  to  some  distant  part  of  the 
woods,  or  perhaps  it  may  gradually  lessen  the  volume  of  protesting 
notes  until  it  becomes  silent,  and  with  apparent  content,  settle  on  what 
one  confidently  thinks  must  be  the  nest,  only  to  flush  it  from  an  empty 
bunch  of  weeds. 

"The  eyes  of  the  young  are  opened  on  the  fifth  day  and  in  two 
instances  birds  left  the  nest  on  the  eighth  day.  If  the  too  inquisitive 
observer  is  noticed  lurking  around,  the  frantic  female  will  frequently 
drive  the  young  from  the  nest  prematurely.  The  male,  while  protest- 
ing vigorously,  seldom  approaches  as  closely  as  the  female." 

In  Mississippi,  Allison  (MS.)  writes  that  the  Kentucky  Warbler 
inhabits  "undergrowth  in  damp,  or,  at  least,  heavily  shaded,  woods. 
It  may  frequent  the  thickets  of  rose-bay  (Illicium)  and  the  tangle  of 
bamboo  briers  on  the  Gulf  coast,  the  varied  tangled  growth  along 
the  creeks  and  rivers  of  the  higher  regions,  or  the  brakes  of  switch- 
cane  ;  but  it  always  selects  a  low,  thick  growth,  where  it  feeds  almost 
entirely  on  the  ground." 

Song. — With  the  Kentucky  Warbler  singing  is  a  serious  per- 
formance to  which  he  gives  his  entire  attention.  I  quote  from  my 
'Handbook' :  "His  song  is  entirely  unlike  that  of  any  other  Warbler. 
It  is  a  loud,  clearly  whistled  performance  of  five,  six,  or  seven  notes 
— tur-dle,  tur-dle,  tur-dle — resembling  in  tone  some  of  the  calls  of  the 
Carolina  Wren.  Even  in  the  woods  it  may  be  heard  at  a  distance  of 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards. 

"In  the  height  of  the  breeding  season  this  Warbler  is  a  most 
persistent  singer.  On  one  occasion,  at  Englewood,  N.  J.,  I  watched  a 
male  for  three  hours.  During  this  period,  with  the  exception  of  five 
interruptions  of  less  than  forty-five  seconds  each,  he  sang  with  the 
greatest  regularity  once  every  twelve  seconds  Thus,  allowing  for  the 
brief  intervals  of  silence,  he  sang  about  875  times,  or  some  5,250 
notes.  I  found  him  singing,  and  when  I  departed  he  showed  no  si^ns 
of  ceasing." 


KENTUCKY  WARBLER 


239 


"The  call-note  is  a  low-pitched  'chuck,'  with  some  of  the  queru- 
lous quality  of  a  Flycatcher's  note ;  in  fact  it  considerably  resembles  the 
note  of  the  Phoebe.  The  song  is  much  like  that  of  the  Carolina  Wren, 
but  less  lively  and  ringing :  ter-wheeter-wheeter-wheeter-wheeter- 
wheeter, — with  falling  inflection.  I  have  never  heard  it  in  fall." 
(Allison,  MS.) 

"The  song  is  a  loud,  clear  and  sweetly  whistled  peer-ry,  repeated 
rapidly  four  or  five  times.  Often,  though  less  frequently,  a  che  che  che 
peer-ry  peer-ry  peer-ry.  When  first  heard  it  is  suggestive  of  the  song 
of  the  Cardinal  or  Carolina  Wren.  During  the  nesting  season  it  is  an 
incessant  singer  from  the  lower  branches  of  the  sapling  in  which  it  is 
constantly  moving  or  as  often  from  the  ground  where  it  is  at  its  best, 
walking  about  with  an  air  and  dignity  not  often  attained  by  small 
birds.  The  song  continues  from  arrival  until  June  27-June  23,  and  one 
was  heard  August  7,  (1902).  Most  persistent  the  first  four  weeks, 
however,  when  near  its  haunts,  one  is  seldom  out  of  hearing  of  one 
or  more  singers.  A  flight  song  is  sometimes  delivered  about  dusk 
during  the  height  of  the  breeding  period.  It  is  indescribable.  The 
alarm  note  is  a  metallic  chip,  check,  or  chuck,  more  or  less  rapidly 
repeated,  and  to  a  critical  ear  easily  recognizable.  The  bird  appears 
to  be  free  from  that  ever  present  nervousness  of  some  of  our  Wood 
Warblers,  exhibiting  perfect  self  possession  on  almost  all  occasions. 
In  May  1896,  I  heard  several  birds,  possibly  transients,  sing  Too-dle 
too-dle  too-dle  too-dle  (erroneously  transposed  with  the  breeding  song 
in  Warbler  Songs,  Wilson  Bulletin  p.  47).  On  this  occasion  the  birds 
were  not  in  full  song  on  arrival."  (Burns,  MS.) 

Xesting  Site. — On  the  ground  usually  at  the  foot  of  a  bush  or 
among  plants,  sometimes  in  bushes  or  on  low  sweeping  limbs  within 
a  few  inches  of  the  ground. 

"The  nest  is  often  placed  in  the  most  unexpected  places :  It  may 
be  on  top  of  the  ground  at  the  foot  of  a  beech,  spice-bush,  dog-wood, 
sweet  birch,  or  black  haw  sprout;  under  a  fallen  bough,  or  perhaps 
just  off  the  wet  earth  between  the  ground  forks  of  a  bunch  of  spice- 
wood,  winter  fern,  Spanish  needles  or  other  weeds;  or  less  frequently, 
in  the  midst  of  a  patch  of  wild  sarsaparilla,  mandrake  or  other  annuals, 
with  nothing  to  turn  aside  the  crushing  foot  of  man  or  beast.  It  is 
usually  well  concealed  by  the  surrounding  vegetation  while  in  a  com- 
paratively open  spot,  and  if  not  directly  in  an  abandoned  cartroad, 
not  far  from  some  woodland  footpath,  public  road,  or  the  edge  of  the 
woods."  (Burns,  MS.) 


240  KENTUCKY  WARBLER 

Nest. — A  nest  from  Englewood,  N.  J.,  is  very  bulky.  An  outer 
wrapping  of  several  layers  of  dead  leaves  encases  a  wall  of  weed 
stalks  while  the  heavy  lining  consists  of  black  rootlets.  A  nest  from 
VVheatland,  Indiana,  essentially  agrees  with  this  New  Jersey  speci- 
men. 

"A  rather  bulky  and  loosely  constructed  nest,  outwardly  of  some- 
what ragged  dead  leaves  of  the  chestnut,  beech,  cherry,  maple,  white, 
black,  and  chestnut  oak,  a  few  weed  or  grass  stems,  an  occasional 
strip  of  wild  grapevine  bark,  and,  once,  many  green  leaves  of  the 
dogwood,  and,  in  another  example,  several  oak  blossoms;  usually  fol- 
lowed by  an  inner  layer  of  bright,  clean  dead  leaves  of  the  beech, 
lined  with  black  rootlets  and  in  fully  half  of  the  nests  examined,  a  few 
long  black  horse-hairs.  In  one  instance  the  lining  was  of  light-colored 
rootlets.  Another  nest,  so  well  hidden  in  a  patch  of  woodplants  that 
I  accidentally  trod  upon  it  while  actually  searching  for  it,  was  a  most 
frail  affair  built  exclusively  of  grasses,  lined  with  black  rootlets,  how- 
ever. 

"During  the  nest  building  period  the  birds  are  so  extremely 
jealous  and  watchful,  deserting  the  site  rather  than  be  spied  upon,  that 
I  have  been  unable  so  far  to  follow  this  interesting  period  to  a  finish. 
The  male  unquestionably  aids  his  mate."  (Burns,  MS.) 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  in  about  even  proportions.  Ground  color  white, 
in  some  cases  very  glossy,  spotted  and  specked,  rarely  blotched,  with 
burnt  umber,  cinnamon-rufous  and  lilac-gray,  seldom  if  ever  showing 
under  shell  markings;  in  most  cases  the  markings  are  heavier 
at  the  large  end,  sometimes  in  a  mass,  sometimes  well  wreathed, 
and  in  other  types  evenly  distributed  over  entire  egg.  Size ;  average, 
74X.58;  extremes,  79x.6o,  .6o,x.57,  73X.54.  (Figs.  100,101.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Buncombe  Co.,  N.  C.,  May  23  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  West 
Chester,  Pa.,  May  27  (Jackson)  ;  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  June  25  (/.  P.  N.) ; 
Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May  i8-June  10  (Jacobs)  ;  New  York  City,  June  i- 
June  12  (F  M.  C.)  ;  Dunklin  Co.,  Mo.,  May  15  (C.  W.  C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Observations  on  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County,  West 
Virginia,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  XI,  1875,  W-  (2)  F.  T.  JENKS,  Kentucky 
Warbler,  its  Nesting  Habits,  [in  hid.],  Orn.  and  O61.,  VI,  1881,  49-  (3)  D.  E. 
L[ANTZ],  The  Kentucky  Warbler,  [in  Kansas],  Orn.  and  O61.,  X,  1885,  IQ-  (4) 
T.  A.  JACKSON,  Nesting  of  the  Kentucky  Warbler  [in  S.  E.  Pa.],  Orn.  and  O61., 
XII,  1887,  43.  (5)  J.  P.  NORRIS,  JR.,  Nesting  of  the  Kentucky  Warbler  in  Ches- 
ter County,  Penn.,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV,  1889,  104.  (6)  Ibid.,  XV,  1800,  145- 
(7)  Ibid.,  Nidologist,  I,  1894,  165.  (8)  J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the 
Kentucky  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O6I.,  XVII,  1892,  i. 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER  241 

CONNECTICUT  WARBLER 

OPORORNIS  AGILIS  (Wils.)     Plate  XVIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  adult  3  is  to  be  confused  only  with  the 
adult  c?  of  the  Mourning  and  Macgillivray's  Warbler  from  both  of  which  it  is 
distinguished  by  its  larger  size,  complete  white  eye-ring,  and  absence  of  black 
on  the  breast.  The  young  <$  and  ?  may  be  known  from  the  corresponding 
sex  and  age  of  the  Mourning  and  Macgillivray's  Warblers  by  their  large  size, 
browner  breast,  and  more  conspicuous,  complete  eye-ring.  Length  (skin),  4.90; 
wing,  2.75;  tail,  1.85;  bill,  .48. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Upperparts  olive-green  with  a  brownish  tinge,  the  crown 
more  or  less  slaty  gray;  wings  and  tail  like  back  and  without  white  markings, 
bend  of  wing  yellow;  a  complete  white  eye- ring;  sides  of  head,  throat  and  upper 
breast  slaty  gray  paler  on  the  throat,  rest  of  underparts,  including  crissum, 
yellow,  the  sides  olive-green. 

Adult  3,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d"  in  Spring  but  crown  usually  browner, 
gray  of  breast  faintly  tipped  with  brownish. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  but  crown  olive  washed  with  brown, 
slaty  gray  of  throat  and  cheeks  replaced  by  yellowish  brown  paler  on  the  throat; 
eye-ring  tinged  with  buffy. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  d  but  crown  brownish  olive-green,  cheeks, 
throat  and  upper-breast  brownish  paler  on  throat.  Similar  to  young  c?  in  Fall, 
but  crown  more  olive. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Spring  but  upperparts  and  breast 
browner. 

Young  ?,  Fall.— Not  distinguishable  from  adult  $  in  Fall. 

Nestling. — Not  seen. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States ;  north  to  Manitoba ; 
west  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

Summer  Range. — Summer  records  of  the  Connecticut  Warbler 
are  rare.  There  is  a  single  record  of  its  breeding  in  Manitoba;  it  was 
found  located  for  the  summer  in  a  tamarack  swamp  near  Hickory, 
Aitkin  County,  Minn.,  where  it  was  seen  from  June  21  onward;  it 
was  seen  in  July  on  the  St.  Louis  River  in  eastern  Minnesota,  and, 
therefore,  probably  breeds  in  that  locality;  it  is  claimed  to  breed  not 
uncommonly  in  southern  Wisconsin ;  old  with  young  were  seen  on  the 
Porcupine  Mountains,  northern  Michigan,  July  27,  1904,  and  undoubt- 
edly bred  there. 

Winter  Range. — Northern  South  America;  the  West  Indies  in 
migration. 

Spring  Migration. — This  is  one  of  the  few  species  that  seems  to 
travel  different  routes  during  the  two  yearly  migrations.  The  spring 
migration  is  through  Florida  to  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  thence 
north  to  the  breeding  grounds.  The  few  records  of  spring  migra- 
tion note  the  arrival  of  this  species  in  southern  Florida  May  4-19; 
northern  Florida,  May  10-11;  Chester  County,  S.  C.,  May  10;  St. 


242  CONNECTICUT  WARBLER 

Louis,  Mo.,  May  14-22;  English  Lake,  Ind.,  May  4,  1891 ;  Oberlin,  O., 
May  7,  1904;  Glen  Ellyn,  111.,  May  12,  1896;  southern  Michigan,  May 
17,  1894;  southern  Ontario,  May  16,  1892. 

Fall  Migration. — The  vicinity  of  Chicago  is  one  of  the  few  places 
visited  by  the  Connecticut  Warbler  during  both  spring  and  fall  migra- 
tion. Here  the  average  period  of  fall  occurrence  is  from  August  31 
to  September  10,  with  extremes  of  August  30  and  September  17.  The 
path  of  fall  migration  passes  principally  east  of  the  Allegheny  Moun- 
tians  and  some  dates  of  occurrence  along  the  Atlantic  slope  are  at 
Saco,  Me.,  September  8-15;  Shelburne,  N.  H.,  September  14;  Pitts- 
ford,  Vermont,  September  20;  Portland,  Conn.,  September  17  to  Octo- 
ber i;  southeastern  New  York,  August  26  to  October  12;  Engle- 
wood,  N.  J.,  September  3  to  October  1 1 ;  Washington,  D.  C,  August 
28  to  October  12;  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  October  14-24;  southern  Forida, 
October  9.  So  far  as  known,  the  Connecticut  Warbler  has  not  been 
recorded  anywhere  during  the  half  of  the  year  from  October  22  to 
April  9. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — During  the  spring  migration  the 
Connecticut  Warbler  seems  to  be  confined  to  the  Mississippi  Valley 
where,  at  this  season,  as  well  as  in  the  fall,  it  is  generally  considered 
a  rare  bird.  In  its  return  migration,  however,  it  is  often  common 
in  the  Atlantic  states.  At  this  time  they  may  usually  be  found  in 
low,  damp  woods  with  abundant  undergrowth,  though  not  infre- 
quently they  are  flushed  from  weedy  growths  bordering  hedgerows 
some  distance  from  the  woods.  They  are  now  excessively  fat,  no 
other  Warbler,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  approaching  them  in  this 
respect.  While,  locally  Connecticut  Warblers  seem  to  come  in  flights, 
being  common  some  years  and  rare  others,  the  census  of  light-house- 
striking  Warblers  shows  that  the  bird  is  a  regular  autumnal  visitor. 

At  Cambridge,  Brewster5  writes:  "We  used  to  find  Connecticut 
Warblers  oftenest  among  the  thickets  of  clethra,  Andromeda  ligus- 
trina,  shad-bush  and  black  alder,  which  formed  a  dense  swamp,  and 
in  the  beds  of  touch-me-not  (Impatiens)  that  covered  some  of  its 
wetter  portions.  They  were  also  given  to  frequenting  the  banks  of 
numerous  intersecting  ditches,  especially  where  the  deadly  night- 
shade, clinging  to  the  stems  of  the  bushes,  trailed  its  gray-green 
foliage  and  coral-red  berries  over  the  black  mud  or  coffee-colored 
water.  In  such  places  they  often  literally  swarmed,  but  so  retiring 
and  elusive  were  they  that  by  anyone  unacquainted  with  their  habits 
they  might  easily  have  been  overlooked.  They  spent  most  of  their 
time  on  the  ground  under  or  among  rank  vegetation,  where  they 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER  243 

would  often  remain  securely  hidden  until  nearly  trodden  on.  Indeed 
we  learned  eventually  that  the  only  certain  method  of  starting  all  the 
birds  that  a  thicket  contained  was  to  beat  the  place  closely  and  sys- 
tematically many  times  in  succession.  When  flushed  they  would 
usually  fly  up  into  the  low  bushes  and  sit  there  motioness  in  thrush- 
like  attitudes,  gazing  at  us  intently  with  their  large  dark  eyes.  If  fur- 
ther disturbed,  they  were  nearly  sure  to  take  long  flights  to  distant 
parts  of  the  swamp  During  cloudy  weather  we  sometimes  found 
them  feeding  with  Blackpoll  Warblers  in  the  tops  of  large  willows, 
fifty  or  sixty  feet  above  the  ground.  The  earliest  date  on  which  they 
were  ever  seen  by  us  was  September  7,  and  the  last  stragglers  usually 
departed  for  the  south  before  the  ist  of  October.  They  never  appeared 
in  spring,  nor  is  there  a  single  record  in  which  I  have  full  confidence  of 
their  occurrence  at  that  season  in  any  part  of  Massachusetts." 

At  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  (MS.)  writes  that  the. Connecticut 
Warbler  is  "sometimes  fairly  common  at  Monadnock  in  the  fall,  from 
mid-September  to  early  October,  in  bushy  roadside  copses  and  damp 
thickets  in  and  near  woods.  In  spring  it  is  very  rare  here,  we  have 
seen  only  two  or  three  in  the  course  of  a  dozen  years." 

With  Brewster  he  comments  on  the  bird's  thrush-like  appearance, 
saying :  "As  it  appears  about  Monadnock  in  the  Autumn,  the  Connecti- 
cut has  a  curiously  quiet  and  thrush-like  demeanor.  Starting  up  from 
the  ground,  where  it  has  been  walking,  it  stops  on  a  low  perch  and  sits 
dead  still  for  several  seconds,  sometimes  for  a  half  minute  or  more, 
before  moving  on,  and  then  it  usually  flies  rather  far.  The  only  note  I 
have  ever  heard  from  it  is  a  very  quick,  sharp  call,  with  a  clipped-short 
metallic  ring,  plink,  easily  remembered  and  differentiated  among  War- 
bler chips.  In  immature  plumage,  as  we  commonly  see  it,  it  looks  very 
dark,  and  shows  no  definite  markings  whatever  beyond  the  rather  con- 
spicuous white  eye-ring,  which  adds  to  the  effect  of  thrush-likeness." 

According  to  Ernest  Seton1,  who  alone  has  found  the  Connecticut 
breeding,  the  bird,  in  Manitoba,  summers  in  tamarac  swamps.  Gault's4 
observations  in  Aitkin  County,  Minn.,  indicate  the  breeding  of  the 
species  in  similar  localities  at  that  place,  while  the  taking  of  fledglings 
by  Warren3,  on  August  10,  near  Palmer,  in  the  Upper  Peninsula  of 
Michigan,  considerably  extends  the  probable  nesting  range  of  the 
species.  Warren  remarks  that  at  this  point  he  saw  over  fifty  Connecti- 
cut Warblers  on  August  29,  an  observation  which  suggests  that  the 
species  is  much  more  common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  than  existing 
records  would  lead  us  to  believe. 


244  MOURNING  WARBLER 

Song. — I  have  never  heard  the  song  of  this  species.  The  call-note, 
however,  is  a  sharp,  characteristic  peek.  Ernest  Seton1  writes  that  the 
song  "may  be  suggested  by  the  syllables  beecher-beecher-beecher- 
beccher-beecher-beecher.  It  is  like  the  song  of  the  Golden-crowned 
Thrush  [=Oven-bird],  but  differs  in  being  in  the  same  pitch  through- 
out. *  *  * 

"Besides  the  song  already  recorded  I  have  noted  another  type ;  it 
nearly  resembles  the  syllables  fru-chapple  fru-chapple  fru-chapple 
u'hoit,  and  is  uttered  in  a  loud,  ringing  voice,  quite  unlike  the  weak, 
hurried  lisping  of  the  Wood  Warbler  *  *  *  ." 

"On  first  hearing  the  song  it  reminded  me  strongly  of  the  Northern 
Yellow-throat's.  It  is,  however,  more  vigorous  and  resonant  than  the 
Yellow-throat's.  It  does  not  repeat  the  song  very  often.  The  descrip- 
tion fru-chapple  fru-chapple  fru-chapple,  whoit,  is  good.  Or,  some- 
times, it  seems  to  say  too-too-whit.  He  shakes  his  body  all  over  when 
he  sings  and  his  wings  and  tail  vibrate  furiously."  (Farwell.  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — On  the  ground  (Seton1). 

Nest. — What  appears  to  be  the  only  authentic  nest  of  this  species 
was  found  by  Ernest  Seton1  near  Carberry,  Manitoba,  June  21,  1883. 
It  is  described  by  him  as  being  "composed  entirely  of  fine  grass." 

Eggs. — The  nest  discovered  by  Seton  contained  4  eggs.  Their 
color  before  being  blown  is  described  as  "a  delicate  creamy  white,  with 
a  few  spots  of  lilac-purple,  brown,  and  black,  inclined  to  form  a  ring 
at  the  large  end."  Size;  .75x.56. 

Nesting  Dates. — Porcupine  Mts.,  Ontonagon  Co.,  Mich.,  July  27, 
female  with  bare  abdomen  and  young  of  year,  Maclean  (Barroivs). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  E.  T.  SETON,  Nest  and  Habits  of  the  Connecticut  Warbler,  [in  Mani- 
toba], Auk,  I,  1884,  192.  (See  also  Proc.  U.  S.  N.  M.,  XIII,  1800,  621.  (2) 
W.  L.  COLLINS,  Note  on  Oporornis  agilis,  [near  Philadelphia],  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn. 
Club,  V,  1880,  50.  (3)  O.  B.  WARREN,  Notes  from  the  Upper  Peninsula  of 
Michigan,  Auk,  XII,  1895,  192.  (4)  B.  T.  GAULT,  Geothlyfis  agilis,  A  Possible 
Breeder  in  Northern  Minnesota,  Auk,  XIV,  1897,  222.  (5)  WM.  BREWSTER, 
Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  351. 

MOURNING  WARBLER 

OPORORNIS  PHILADELPHIA  (Wils.)     Plate  XIX 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  Mourning  and  Macgillivray's  Warblers 
closely  resemble  one  another  but  may  be  distinguished  by  the  following  char- 
acters; the  adult  c?  Mourning  has  no  white  in  the  eye-ring,  the  lores  are  black- 
ish, the  breast  jet  black  with  few  or  no  grayish  tips  at  its  junction  with  the 
yellow  of  the  underparts;  the  adult  c?  Macgillivray's  has  a  white  mark  in  the 


PLATE  XIX 


1.  MACGILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER,  MALE.  3.  MOURNING  WARBLER,  MALI 

2.  MACGILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER,  FEMALE.  4.  MOURNING  WARBLER,  FEMA 

5.  MOURNING  WARBLER,  YOUNG  MALE. 


MOURNING  WARBLER  245 

eye-ring  above  and  below  the  eye,  the  lores  are  black,  the  breast  slate-black, 
usually  widely  and  more  or  less  evenly  tipped  with  grayish.  The  $  and  young 
<$  of  these  species  can  be  less  readily  determined  since  in  such  specimens  the 
Mourning  develops  a  more  or  less  well-marked  whitish  eye-ring.  It  is,  how- 
ever, usually  incomplete  and  this  fact  in  connection  with  the  bird's  shorter  tail 
will  serve  to  separate  it  from  Macgillivray's.  Length  (skin),  4.90;  wing,  2.50; 
tail,  2.00;  bill,  .45. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Head  bluish  slate,  back,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green,  no 
white  markings,  no  white  eye-ring;  lores  gray  or  blackish;  throat  heavily  tipped 
with  gray,  these  tips  gradually  decreasing  in  width  posteriorly,  leaving,  usually, 
a  black  area  on  the  breast  at  its  junction  with  the  yellow  of  the  rest  of  the 
underparts,  sides  greenish. 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — No  specimens  in  early  Fall  plumage  seen,  but  judging  from 
G.  tolmiei,  similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  throat  and  breast  more  widely  tipped 
with  whitish,  the  crown  tipped  with  brownish. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  crown  brownish  olive- 
green  slightly  browner  than  back,  a  nearly  complete  whitish  eye-ring,  throat 
and  upper  breast  yellowish,  the  former  paler,  the  feathers  of  the  latter  dusky 
or  blackish  basally. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  bluish  slate  of  head  and 
olive  of  back  browner;  an  inconspicuous  whitish  or  gray  eye-ring;  throat 
and  upper  breast  brownish  gray. 

Adult  $,  Fall.— Not  seen. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Above  uniform  olive- green,  head  without  trace  of  gray; 
below  yellow,  throat  with  a  more  or  less  evident  trace  of  dusky,  sides  greenish; 
eye-ring  less  distinctly  whitish  than  in  adult  $. 

Nestling. — Above  dark  olive-brown,  browner  than  in  nestling  of  Geothlypis 
trichas,  sides  and  breast  a  more  yellow  brown,  belly  yellowish  buff,  median 
and  greater  wing-coverts  tipped  with  cinnamon-brown. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Nova 
Scotia  and  Manitoba ;  west  almost  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — The  Mourning  Warbler  is  most  common  in  sum- 
mer near  the  northern  limit  of  its  range,  in  Manitoba,  northern  Minne- 
sota, and  central  Ontario ;  and  less  common  in  eastern  Assiniboia.  It 
is  not  uncommon  as  a  breeder  in  Michigan  (Porcupine  Mountains), 
southern  Ontario  (Toronto,  Guelph),  northern  New  York  (Oneida, 
Niagara,  Ontario  Counties),  Vermont  (Londonderry,  Townsend), 
New  Hampshire  (Mt.  Moosilauke,  North  Woodstock,  Intervale), 
Massachusetts  (Berkshire  County),  Maine  (Franklin  County),  New 
Brunswick,  Prince  Edward  Island  and  Nova  Scotia.  It  breeds  also  in 
the  Catskills  and  in  some  of  the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania  (West- 
moreland, Sullivan,  Cambria,  Clinton  Counties),  and  West  Virginia 
(spruce  belt). 

With  the  exception  of  a  probably  accidental  occurrence  in  South 
Carolina,  it  has  not  been  recorded  outside  the  mountains  at  any  time 
of  the  vear  in  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  from  North  Carolina  to 


246 


MOURNING  WARBLER 


Mississippi.  It  is  a  rare  migrant  in  Louisiana,  but  is  fairly  common  in 
migration  in  Texas,  and  has  been  noted  in  eastern  Kansas  (Topeka, 
Neosho  Falls),  eastern  Nebraska  (Omaha,  Neligh),  and  eastern  North 
Dakota  (Cando). 

Its  distribution  in  the  United  States  is,  therefore,  fan-shaped. 
Touching  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  along  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and  Texas, 
a  distance  of  six  hundred  miles,  the  lines  of  migration  extend  north  to 
Manitoba  and  northeast  along  the  west  side  of  the  Alleghenies  to  New 
Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia  and  the  Magdalen  Islands.  The  east  and 
west  extension  of  the  breeding  ground  is  nearly  two  thousand  miles. 

Winter  Range. — Nicaragua  to  Ecuador. 

Spring  Migration. — The  Mourning  Warbler  is  one  of  the  latest 
of  the  family  to  arrive  from  its  winter  home  in  Central  and  South 
America.  It  probably  reaches  the  United  States  late  in  April  or  the 
first  week  in  May. 


PLACE 

No.  of 

years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Beaver,   Pa 

2 

May    ii 

May      6,  1902 

Renovo,  Pa  

8 

May    ii 

May      4,  1896 

Scarboro,  N.  Y  

2 

May    10 

May      9,  1897 

St   Johnsbury  Vt 

May    20,  1900 

Montreal,  Can.    .  .         

May    30,  1888 

St.  John,  N.  B  

May    24,  1891 

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Island 
San  Antonio,  Texas  .  . 

June    15,  1888 
April  24,  1890 

Victoria  County,  Texas  

May      3,  1887 

Brookville   Ind 

May      7,  1881 

Oberlin,  O    .:       

May      5,  1899 

St.  Louis,  Mo  

6 

May      7 

May     10,  1886 

Chicago    111 

6 

May    15 

May     17,  1902 

Southern  Mich  

7 

May     19 

May    14,  1892 

Listowel    Ont 

4 

May    17 

May      8,  1900 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa    Ont          

13 
8 

May    17 
May    22 

May     17,  1895 
May     10,  1891 

10 

May    23 

May     13,  1886 

White  Earth    Minn 

8 

May    1  8 

May    1  8,  1885 

Aweme,   Man  

May    23,  1900 

Fall  Migration. — An  unusually  early  migrant  was  seen  at  Lanes- 
boro,  Minn.,  July  I,  1888.  The  species  moves  south  in  July  and  August, 
and  reaches  Costa  Rica  the  first  of  September.  The  last  has  been  noted 
at  Ottawa,  Ont.,  August  28,  1896;  North  River,  Prince  Edward  Island, 
September  3,  1890;  Cleveland,  Ohio,  September  26,  1896;  Renovo,  Pa., 
September  26,  1899;  Cambridge,  Mass.,  September  30;  New  Orleans, 
La.,  October  7,  1896. 


MOURNING  WARBLER 


247 


The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Both  while  nesting  and  when  migrat- 
ing, the  Mourning  Warbler  appears  to  be  a  more  or  less  rare  bird 
throughout  its  range.  At  Englewood,  I  know  it  only  as  an  occasional 
late  spring  migrant  and  have  no  record  of  it  in  the  fall. 

At  Cambridge,  according  to  Brewster5,  there  are  definite  records 
of  the  occurrence  of  but  fifteen  individuals  of  this  species  of  which  only 
two  were  observed  in  the  fall.  Most  of  the  birds,  Brewster  states, 
"were  found  either  in  swampy  thickets  or  among  dense  shrubbery  in 
gardens." 

At  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  (MS.)  writes,  the  Mourning  War- 
bler is  rare,  "we  have  seen  several  here  in  the  spring  and  one  or  two 
in  autumn.  It  may  possibly  breed  here.  Its  call-notes  I  have  never 
heard,  wittingly,  and  its  full-voiced,  highly-modulated  singing  I  have 
heard  too  seldom  to  warrant  my  attempting  a  detailed  description  of  it. 
In  migration,  it  is  a  somewhat  shy  and  quick-moving  Warbler,  like  a 
Yellow-throat  with  a  dash  of  Water-Thrush  blood.  It  hops  about  in 
thickets  like  a  Yellow-throat,  but  is  prone  to  visit  also  the  overgrowth 
of  deciduous  woods  and  hedge-rows.  The  first  one  I  ever  saw  I  shot 
from  the  top  of  a  seventy-foot  maple,  whither  it  had  flown  from  a  blos- 
soming apple  tree.  The  Mourning  has  also  manners  in  common  with 
its  close  cousin  the  Connecticut,  notably  the  habit  of  stopping  very  short 
and  sitting  quite  still  for  a  few  seconds." 

In  Maine,  Swain4  writes,  the  Mourning  Warbler's  nesting  haunts 
are  in  "dense  underbrush  on  the  margin  of  some  lowland  woods  or 
second  growth  swamps  or  on  some  hillside  covered  with  brush,  near  a 
deep  wooded  ravine." 

At  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Burtch  (MS.)  says  a  favorite  nesting 
resort  is  a  bushy  clearing  with  an  abundance  of  blackberry  briars,  and  I 
have  found  the  bird,  in  June,  in  a  similar  location  in  northern  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y. 

Song. — "The  males  would  sit  for  a  long  time  on  the  limb  of  a  dead 
tree,  motionless,  but  for  the  occasional  utterance  of  their  brief  song. 
In  quality  their  song  is  much  like  that  of  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat ; 
but  the  song,  as  I  heard  it,  consists  of  five  notes,  the  first  three  just 
alike,  followed  by  two  others,  louder  and  fuller.  The  whole  is  loud, 
clear  and  ringing  and  forms  an  interesting  song.  *  *  *  "  (Roberts1} 

"In  quality  and  style  this  Warbler's  songs  bears  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  that  of  the  Water-Thrush,  the  variations  having  the  same  gen- 
eral quality,  but  the  song  is  considerably  less  in  volume  and  lacks  the 
wild  thrill  of  the  Water-Thrush.  The  song  which  I  have  heard  most 
frequently  is  tee  te-o  te-o  te-o  we-se,  the  last  couplet  accented  and  much 


248  MOURNING  WARBLER 

higher  pitched.  A  less  common  form  slightly  resembles  the  crescendo 
chant  of  Oven-bird,  but  is  weaker.  It  is  rather  a  swell  than  a  cres- 
cendo. Dr.  Merriam  describes  a  variation  which  I  have  never  heard: 
'trite  'true  'true  'tru  'too,  the  last  and  next  to  the  last  syllables  with  fall- 
ing inflection  and  more  softly.  The  song  is  clear  and  whistling. 

"Song  is  incessant  during  the  northward  movement,  but  there  is 
apparently  none  on  the  return  journey."  (Jones.) 

Miss  Paddock  sends  four  renderings  and  writes:  "The  quality 
is  very  full  and  rich  and  the  rhythm  unmistakable." 


. 

- 


Nesting  Site. — In  briars  or  weedy  growths  in  thickets  usually  six 
to  twenty  inches  above  the  ground. 

Nest. — Swain*  describes  a  Maine  nest  as  bulky  but  neat  and  com- 
pact, made  externally  of  dry  leaves  and  vine  stalks  with  an  inner  wall 
of  dead,  coarse,  flat-bladed  grass,  with  finer  grasses  and  a  few  weed 
stalks,  all  through  this  wall  a  few  small,  dead  white  maple  leaves  being 
interwoven.  The  lining  was  composed  of  fine  grasses  and  a  few  horse- 
hairs. 

A  nest  found  by  Tabor3  in  northern  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  is 
"composed  of  weed  stalks  with  layers  of  leaves  mixed  in,  and  is  lined 
with  fine  black  rootlets." 

Eggs. — Usually  4.  Ground  color  white,  sparingly  spotted  and 
blotched  with  rufous  red,  brownish  and  light  hazel  in  form  of  an  indis- 
tinct wreath  about  large  end  and  few  scattering  marks  over  rest  of 


MACGILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER 


249 


egg.     Size;  a  typical  set  of  four  measure  -7ix.56,  .7ox.55,  -74X.56, 
•73x-55-     (Figs-  I02>  I03-) 

Nesting  Dates. — Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  8  (Spaulding)  ;  between 
Athens  and  Hartland,  Me.,  June  16  (Knight}  ;  Listowel,  Ont,  June 
3-June  14  (Kells)  ;  Kalkuska  Co.,  Mich.,  June  7,  Dunham — Onton- 
agon  Co.,  nestlings,  July  15,  Peet  (Barrows}, 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  T.  S.  ROBERTS,  A  Partial  List  of  the  Birds  of  St.  Louis  and  Lake 
Counties,  Minn.,  Rep.  Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn,  for  1879,  158.  (2)  W.  L. 
KELLS,  Nesting  of  the  Mourning  Warbler,  (in  Ontario),  Orn.  and  O61.,  XIV, 
1889,  4;  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XVIII,  1904,  65.  (3)  E.  G.  TABOR,  N<  sting  of  the 
Mourning  Warbler,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XV,  1890,  68.  (4)  J.  M.  SWAIN,  Contribu- 
tions to  the  Life-History  of  the  Mourning  Warbler,  Journ.  Me.  Orn.  Soc.,  VII, 
1905,  14.  (5)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Birds  of  the  Cambridge  Region,  353. 

MACGILLIVRAY'S    WARBLER 

OPORORNIS  TOLM1EI    (Towns.)    Plate  XIX 

Distinguishing  Characters. — For  a  comparison  of  this  species  with  the  Con- 
necticut and  Mourning  Warblers,  see  those  species.  Length  (skin),  5.00;  wing, 
2.50;  tail,  2.10;  bill,  .45. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Head  bluish  slate,  back  olive-green,  wings  and  tail  olive- 
green  without  white  markings;  a  white  mark  above  and  another  below  the 
eye,  lores  black;  throat  and  upper  breast  blackish  or  slaty-black  rather  evenly 
and  widely  tipped  with  grayish  white,  rest  of  underparts  yellow,  the  sides 
greenish. 

Adult  3,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  crown  tipped  with  brown- 
ish, throat  more  widely  tipped  with  grayish. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d1  in  Fall  but  crown  olive-brown  without 
slate,  lores  grayish  or  brownish,  throat  and  breast  yellowish  or  brownish  gray. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  d  in  Spring  but  bluish  slate  of  head 
and  olive  of  back  browner;  white  eye-marks  less  conspicuous,  cheeks  and  lores 
grayish,  throat  and  breast  gray  slightly  tinged  with  brown. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  5  in  Spring  but  crown  brown,  browner  than 
back,  throat  with  brownish  tinge  more  pronounced.  Not  certainly  distinguish- 
able from  young  <$  in  Fall. 

Young  $,  Fall. — like  adult  $  in  Fall  but  throat  averaging  browner. 

Nestling. — Not  seen. 

General  Distribution. — Western  United  States. 

Summer  Range. — A   common  and  characteristic  species   of   the 

western  United  States,  breeding  from  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  to 

British  Columbia ;  it  occurs  east  regularly  to  the  foothills  of  the  Rockies 

and  occasionally  far  out  on  the  Plains  to  North  Dakota  (Musselshell 


250  MACGILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER 

River),  western  Nebraska  (Sioux  County),  southeastern  Colorado 
(Springfield)  and  central  Texas  (Gainesville,  San  Antonio). 

Winter  Range. — Lower  California  to  Colombia,  South  America. 

Spring  Migration. — The  earliest  migrants  of  Macgillivray's  War- 
bler seen  in  the  Huachuca  Mountains,  Arizona,  were  recorded  April 
II,  1902.  In  southern  California  a  few  have  been  seen  as  early  as 
the  last  of  March,  but  the  general  time  of  arrival  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  state  is  the  first  ten  days  in  April.  The  average  date  of  arrival 
in  northern  Colorado  is  May  13;  at  Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  May  14,  and  at 
Great  Falls,  Mont,  May  28.  Some  records  of  the  first  birds  noted  are : 
Dayton,  Ore.,  about  May  2;  Camp  Harney,  Ore.,  about  May  i ;  Port- 
land, Ore.,  April  29,  1897;  Olympia,  Wash.,  April  12,  1904;  Tacoma, 
Wash.,  April  16,  1905 ;  southern  British  Columbia,  average  of  three 
years,  May  5,  earliest,  May  2,  1905. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Macgillivray's  Warbler  is  a  generally 
common  bird  in  favorable  localities  throughout  the  west,  I  have  found 
it  even  in  the  midst  of  the  Wyoming  sage  plains,  where  a  few  willows 
bordered  a  snow-born  stream.  Undergrowth  of  some  kind  it  requires 
but  the  scrub  of  a  dry  hillside  apparently  answers  its  wants  as  well 
as  the  bushes  near  water.  It  is  much  less  demonstrative  than  a  Yellow- 
throat  (Geothlypis)  and  seems  to  try  to  avoid  being  seen  either  by 
remaining  in  cover  or  by  a  quick  low  flight  to  more  distant  cover,  and 
were  not  its  song  too  pronounced  to  be  overlooked  the  bird  might 
easily  escape  attention. 

In  California,  Walter  Fisher  (MS)  writes:  "This  is  a  very  quiet 
little  bird  and  is  common  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  among 
prickly  ceanothus,  deer-brush,  wild  cherry,  and  clumps  of  willow,  often 
frequenting  the  vicinity  of  water,  but  as  often  found  far  from  it.  It 
lives  in  much  the  same  country  that  is  occupied  by  the  Calaveras  War- 
bler, from  which  it  may  be  readily  distinguished  by  its  gray  head  and 
more  retiring  habits.  There  is  something  wren-like  in  the  way  Mac- 
gillivray's Warbler  moves  through  its  miniature  jungle,  shyly  eyes  the 
observer,  and  then  vanishes  noiselessly." 

Song. — "Their  ordinary  song-notes,  chee-chee-chee-chee,  I  could 
not  positively  discriminate  from  those  of  Wilson's  Black-cap  [=Wil- 
sonia  p.  pileolata],  when  the  two  sang  on  either  side  of  me  in  a  thicket. 
To  these  chee-che-chu,  or  a  few  terminal  notes,  may  be  added.  Some- 
times, however,  in  May,  this  little  Warbler  has  a  fit  of  ecstasy,  and,  with 
a  short,  nervous  flight  bursts  into  sweet  song,  although  not  so  liquid 
as  his  eastern  cousin's."  (A/mo/1.) 

Nesting  Site.— The  nest  is  generally  placed  in  briars  or  small 
bushes  from  six  inches  to  two  feet  from  the  ground,  but  Minot1  re- 


MARYLAND   YELLOW-THROAT 


251 


cords  an  unusually  situated  one  from  Colorado,  as  built  in  a  scrub  oak 
five  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest. — Minot1  describes  the  nest  as  recalling  a  coarse  type  of 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler  architecture.  Nests  in  the  Crandall  collection 
from  Colorado  are  composed  of  grasses  and  rootlets  lined  with  hair; 
while  a  nest  from  California  is  described  as  small  and  loosely  made, 
composed  of  grasses,  principally  'wild  oats,'  lined  with  fine  grasses  and 
a  little  hair. 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4,  very  rarely  5.  Ground  color  white  to 
slightly  creamy,  marked  with  many  shades  of  brown,  dark  lilac,  rufous, 
purplish  black  and  numerous  under  shell  spots  of  lavender ;  these  mark- 
ings occur  in  the  form  of  specks,  spots,  blotches,  in  some  cases  much 
run  together,  and  irregular  lines,  heavier  at  the  larger  end  where  they 
often  form  an  indistinct  wreath;  in  many  types  the  smaller  half  of 
the  egg  is  almost  devoid  of  markings.  Size;  average,  ./ix.52; 
extremes  measure  .66x.5o  and  .^^x.^6.  (Figs.  104-106.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Estes  Park,  Colo.,  June  15  (C.  W .  C.)  ;  Sonoma, 
Calif.,  May  2  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Tacoma,  Wash.,  June  11-18  (Bowles). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  H.  D.  MINOT,  Notes  on  Colorado  Birds,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  V, 
1880,  227. 

Genus  GEOTHLYPIS  Cabanis 

Geothlypis  is  characterized  chiefly  by  its  short  wing  and  rounded 
tail.  The  wing  in  our  species  is  never  more  than  .25  inches  longer  than 
the  tail  and  sometimes  equals  it  in  length,  and  averages  only  two  and 
three-fourths  times  as  long  as  the  tarsus;  the  outer  primary  is  always 
shorter  than  the  second  and  the  outer  tail-feather  is  about  .25  inches 
shorter  than  the  longest ;  the  tarsus  is  longer  than  middle-toe  and  nail, 
the  hind-toe  not  so  long  as  its  nail. 

As  here  restricted,  Geothlypis  contains  about  twelve  species,  only 
two  of  which  are  North  American,  while  one  is  Bahaman  and  the 
others  range  southward  through  Mexico  to  Argentina. 

The  species  of  Geothlypis  appear  to  respond  to  the  influences  of 
their  environment  more  readily  than  do  other  North  American  War- 
blers. Seven  forms  of  the  Bahaman  bird  are  recognized  and  of  our 
G.  trichas  an  equal  number  are  current.  In  several  instances,  however, 
the  great  individual  variation  which  characterizes  these  birds,  so 
obscures  their  subspecific  differences  that  identification  is  often  attended 
with  much  uncertainty. 

The  distribution  of  the  Bahaman  forms  presents  a  problem  of 
exceptional  interest.  Ridgway  (Bull.  U.  S.  N.  M.,  50,  II,  pp.  675-7) 
records  no  less  than  three  of  the  seven  forms  described  from  -these 
islands  from  the  single  island  of  New  Providence,  but,  if  as  has  been 


252  MARYLAND   YELLOW-THROAT 

currently  believed,  the  Bahaman  races  are  all  representatives  of  a  single 
species,  the  occurrence  of  three  of  these  races  on  one  small  island 
indicates  either  extreme  localization  or  specific  distinctness. 

MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT 

GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS  TRICHAS;(Llnn.)    Plate  XX 

Distinguishing  Characters. — This  species  and  its  several  races  may  always  be 
distinguished  from  other  North  American  Warblers  by  the  characters  given 
under  the  genus  Geothlypis.  The  black  'mask*  of  the  males  is  an  unmistakable 
mark  and  while  this  is  lacking  in  the  female  she  possesses  enough  of  the  Yellow- 
throat  individuality  of  manner  to  be  easily  recognized  in  life. 

Adult  <?,  Spring. — A  broad,  black  'mask'  across  the  forehead  and  on  the 
sides  of  the  head  bordered  posteriorly  by  bluish  gray;  upperparts  olive-green 
with  a  grayish  or  a  brownish  tinge  strongest  on  the  hindhead ;  wings  and  tail, 
externally,  olive-green  without  white  patches  or  bars,  bend  of  wing  yellow, 
outer  vane  of  outer  primary  whitish ;  throat  and  breast  yellow,  belly  whitish 
generally  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow,  sides  brownish,  under  tail-coverts 
yellow. 

Adult  <£  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  6*  in  Spring  but  browner  above  and  on 
sides,  forehead  and  auriculars  more  or  less  tipped  with  grayish,  the  gray  of 
forehead  and  crown  tipped  with  brown. 

Young  <£  Fall.— With  a  general  resemblance  to  the  adult  $  in  Fall  but 
with  more  or  less  black  basally,  grayish  tipped  feathers  in  the  auriculars  and 
below  the  eye,  and,  in  some  specimens,  a  few  in  the  forehead ;  lores  dusky 
yellowish.  The  adult  plumage  is  acquired  by  partial  molt  the  following  Spring. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — No  black  'mask';  above  olive-green  washed  with  grayish 
or  with  brownish,  brightest  on  the  forehead  where  sometimes  distinctly  reddish 
brown ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  greener ;  tail  and  wings,  externally,  olive- 
green  without  white  patches  or  bars,  bend  of  the  wing  yellow,  outer  vane  of 
outer  primary  whitish,  eye-ring  whitish ;  throat  and  upper  breast  yellow  or  yel- 
lowish in  varying  amount,  belly  whitish  more  or  less  buffy,  sides  brownish, 
under  tail-coverts  yellowish. 

Adult  9,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  browner  above,  on  sides 
and  on  belly;  throat  and  upper  breast  yellower,  the  yellow  washed  with  buffy. 

Young  9,  Fall. — Upperparts  uniform  brownish  olive-green ;  throat  faintly 
tinged  with  yellow  or  buffy  without  yellow;  belly  whitish  washed  with  buff 
or  yellowish ;  sides  brownish.  Like  adult  $  in  Fall  but  forehead  not  noticeably 
browner  than  back,  throat  and  upper  breast  much  paler. 

Nestling.— Above  olive-brown,  browner  in  some  specimens,  greener  in  others 
wing-coverts  tipped  with  cinnamon ;  below  dusky  yellowish  olive,  belly  and 
under  tail-coverts  yellower  and  without  dusky  wash. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America. 
Summer  Range. — Eastern    North    America    west   to   the    Great 
Plains  region,  north  from  the  northern  part  of  the   Austroriparian 
fauna  to  Manitoba  and  southern  Labrador. 


PLATE  XX 


1.  BEI.DING'S  YELLOW-THROAT,  ADULT  MALE.  3.  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  BELDING'S   YELLOW-THROAT,  ADULT  FEMALE.       4.  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT,  ADULT  FEMAU 

5.  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT,  YOUNG  MALE. 
(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


MARYLAND    YELLOW-THROAT 


253 


Winter  Range. — From  the  Gulf  States  to  the  Bahamas,  Greater 
Antilles,  Mexico,  and  Central  America. 

Spring  Migration. — It  is  not  possible  to  apportion  the  migration 
notes  with  any  degree  of  accuracy  among  the  various  subspecies  of 
Yellow-throats.  Locality  must,  therefore,  be  taken  as  an  index  to 
identity. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Raleigh,  N.  C  

j_-i 

Washington,  D.   C  

Anril    rS     1888 

Beaver,   Pa 

6 

Renovo,  Pa 

8 

May      4 
Mav      A 

April  30,  1899 

Germantown,  Pa 

Englewood,   N.  J.    .  . 

7 

A/Ta-ir         A 

Southeastern  New  York   
Jewett  City,  Conn  

14 

g 

May      4 
May      5 

April  30,  1900 

Boston,  Mass  

May      4 

Mav         T 

Southern  New  Hampshire   
Southern  Maine   

9 
10 

May      7 
May     ii 

May      6,  1902 

Quebec,   Can  

7 

St.  John,  N.   B  

II 

Mav      iR 

Central  Nova  Scotia  

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Isl.  . 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
Rodney,  Miss  

Marrh    oR 

June     6,  1891 

Helena,  Ark  

7 

Eubank,  Ky  

6 

St.  Louis,  Mo.   . 

7 

Anri!    rS 

Brookville,    Ind.    

Waterloo,   Ind  

IO 

Wauseon,  Ohio  

7 

Oberlin,   Ohio    

IO 

Chicago,  111  

Mav         T 

Petersburg,   Mich  

II 

Mav         T 

Anrfl    ?A     iRR6 

Southern  Ontario  

ie 

Mav        8 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Ottawa,  Ont  

9 

g 

May     1  8 

May     13,  1899 

Keokuk,  Iowa   

8 

Grinnell,  Iowa  

6 

Lanesboro,  Minn  

7 

Mav        t; 

April  ^o    1888 

Elk  River,  Minn  
Aweme,   Man 

7 

May    12 

May      9,  1890 

Western  United  States— 
Onaga,    Kans  

7 

Cheyenne,  Wyo  

2 

Mav       o    1880 

Great  Falls,   Mont  

3 

Columbia  Falls,  Mont  
Osier,  Saskatchewan  

4 

May     10 

May      9,  1895 

Beaverton,   Ore  

March  21    i88"i 

Southern  British  Columbia  

3 

April    6 

April    4,  1889 

254 


MARYLAND   YELLOW-THROAT 


Fall  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  s*en 

Columbia  Falls    Mont 

September  24,  1896 

Great  Falls,  Mont  

October    5,  1889 

Central  South  Dakota   

September  1  1 

September  15,  1902 

Lanesboro,  Minn.  

October    5,  1885 

Ottawa,  Ontario  

September  27,  1889 

Chicago,  111  

October    2,  1894 

Waterloo.   Ind  

October    8,  1887 

North  River,   Prince  Edward  Island 
St.  John,  N.  B  

$ 

September    4 

September  n,  1887 
October    3,  1891 

Southern  Maine   

5 

October  13,  1901 

Eastern  Massachusetts  

October  n,  1895 

Southeastern  New  York  . 

October  14,  1887 

New  Providence,  N.  J  

5 

October  23,  1891 

Renovo,  Pa  

October    6,  1899 

Germantown,  Pa  

j 

* 

October  30,  1888 

Washington,  D.  C    

October  20,  1890 

The  Bird  and  Its  Haunts.— The  Yellow-throat,  for  a  Warbler,  is 
possessed  of  unusual  individuality.  This  is  due  not  only  to  its  mode  of 
life  and  peculiar  markings,  but  more  particularly  to  its  responsiveness. 
The  tree-top  Warblers  pass  us  by  without  so  much  as  a  chirp  of 
recognition,  but  the  Yellow-throat  is  evidently  interested  in  us;  his 
notes  are  interrogative  and  so  clearly  occasioned  by  our  presence  that 
they  seem  to  be  actually  addressed  to  us.  With  nervous  animation  the 
bird  hops  here  and  there,  appearing  and  disappearing,  its  bright  eyes 
shining  through  its  black  mask,  its  personality  so  distinct,  that  one 
is  tempted  to  believe  it  a  feather-clad  sprite  of  the  bushes.  The  bird, 
however,  is  far  from  being  confined  to  bushy  tracts,  wet  or  dry,  in  the 
woods  or  out,  but  is  distinctly  partial  to  cat-tail  meadows,  a  trait  far 
more  pronounced  in  its  western  relatives. 

It  is  difficult  to  believe  that  this  haunter  of  thickets  mounts  high 
in  the  sky  to  pursue  its  air-line  flight  to  or  from  its  summer  home, 
but  the  large  number  of  Yellow-throats  included  among  the  victims  of 
lighthouses  fhow  that,  like  other  retiring  birds,  it  is  a  night  migrant. 

At  Berwyn,  Pa.,  F.  L.  Burns  (MS.)  writes  that  the  Yellow-throat 
is  "a  common  summer  inhabitant  of  the  open  swampy  thickets,  damp 
woods,  arid  to  a  lesser  degree,  the  borders  of  the  dense  upland  second 
growth.  It  is  more  often  met  with  in  the  upland  clearings  during 
August  and  September,  than  earlier  in  the  season. 

"Incubation  seems  to  be  performed  by  the  female  alone.  I  have 
found  her  on  the  nest  at  almost  all  hours  of  the  day.  When  flushed 
she  seems  very  timid  and  usually  keeps  well  hidden.  Often  she  flies 
from  the  nest  with  whirring  wings  and  always  dives  into  the  under- 


MARYLAND   YELLOW-THROAT  255 

growth.  All  attempts  to  ascertain  the  period  of  incubation  and  of 
the  time  the  young  are  in  the  nest  have  met  with  disaster.  I  have  seen 
parents  with  young  in  family  groups  up  to  July  25. 

"On  June  10,  1897,  I  found  a  nest  containing  apparently  one  large 
nestling  unfledged — a  close  look  showed  it  to  be  a  very  fat  Cow-bird, 
and  under  it  were  two  puny  young  of  the  owner,  one  dead  and  the 
other  scarcely  larger  than  when  hatched.  A  little  later  in  the  day  I 
duplicated  this  experience  as  far  as  nest  and  contents  were  concerned, 
except  that  both  young  of  the  owner  were  alive,  though  as  small  and 
weak  as  the  one  in  the  first  nest." 

At  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Burtch  (MS.)  writes  that  the  Yellow-throat 
"is  common  in  wet  woods  or  swamps  where  the  grass  grows  in  rank 
tufts.  It  is  found  in  Potter  Swamp  with  the  Water-Thrush  in  the  more 
open  places  and  along  the  edges.  The  birds  are  very  energetic  and  lively 
and  make  their  presence  known  the  moment  one  enters  their  territory, 
when  they  spring  up  from  the  ground  uttering  their  alarm  note  and, 
after  looking  at  you  to  satisfy  their  curiosity,  they  disappear  in  the 
bushes." 

Song. — The  call-note  of  this  species  is  a  characteristic,  impatient 
pit,  chit,  quit  or  chack ;  the  song,  while  variable  has  a  certain  rhythm 
which  readily  lends  itself  to  syllabification  though  few  writers  agree 
as  to  what  the  bird  seems  to  say.  Hence  we  have  witchery  witchery 
witchery;  rapity  rapity  rapity;  rap-pit  titty  rap-pittitty,  rap-pittitty  rap; 
what  a  pity,  what  a  pity,  what  a  pity,  pit;  I  beseech  you,  I  beseech  you, 
I  beseech  you;  witch-a-wee-o,  witch-a-wee-o,  witch-a-wee-o ;  wee-see- 
see-see,  wee-see-see-see,  wee-see-see-see,  etc.  The  songster  himself 
however,  can  be  identified  without  difficulty  and  may  best  be  left  to 
render  his  own  music. 

The  flight  song,  uttered  as  the  bird  springs  a  few  feet  into  the  air, 
is  a  confused  stuttering  jumble  of  notes  often  followed  by  the  normal 
song  as  the  bird  returns  to  its  perch. 

"There  is  probably  a  dual  season  of  song  with  this  species,  which 
is  obscured  by  variation  in  the  singing-time  of  individuals.  Though  it 
usually  remains  in  song  all  through  the  summer,  in  the  last  weeks  of 
July  and  the  first  of  August  singing  is  less  general  and  less  spirited 
than  either  before  or  after.  Often  after  the  middle  of  August  songs 
will  be  louder  and  more  frequent  than  for  weeks  previously.  Singing 
may  cease  at  any  time  from  about  the  middle  of  August  to  the  end  of 
the  month,  or  first  part  of  September  (August  12  and  19,  to  September 
3,  4.  ii  and  13)  ;  but  September  singing  is  unusual."  (Bicknell2). 


256  MARYLAND   YELLOW-THROAT 

"A  whistled  wichity  wichity  wichity  about  describes  the  common 
song.  On  May  8,  1898,  half  a  dozen  Yellow-throats  temporarily  located 
in  the  corner  of  a  swamp,  uttered  unusual  songs.  One  male  sang 
che-e-e-e-e-e  like  the  Worm-eating  Warbler.  The  five  other  males, 
no  females  noted,  sang  che-a-we-a  che-a-we-a  che-a-we-a  occasionally 
transposing  the  syllables  -we-a-che-a.  The  alarm  note  is  a  reedy 
tsip  or  chip,  not  to  be  mistaken  for  that  of  any  other  of  our  Warblers. 
The  period  of  song  is  from  arrival  or  shortly  after,  to  about  June 
11-20,  when  they  appear  to  be  less  active,  until  July  2-6  to  July  10- 
August  2."  (Burns,  MS.} 

"The  Yellow-throat  is  a  full-voiced  and  rather  irregular  singer. 
Not  only  does  its  prevalent  song-form  vary  greatly  with  regions,  but 
different  individuals  in  the  same  region  have  notable  peculiarities  of 
utterance,  both  constant  and  occasional.  The  typical  form  of  its  song 
around  Monadnock  sounds  to  me  like  Witty-titty,  witty-titty,  etc., 
but  this  type  is  often  widely  varied  from.  Still,  the  Yellow-throat  seems 
to  be  a  bird  with  one  rather  than  two  or  more  main  songs.  Like  the 
Chestnut-side,  it  sometimes  mocks,  or  seems  to  mock,  other  birds. 
Queerly  enough,  in  the  only  case  of  this  I  was  ever  witness  to,  the  bird 
mimicked  was  a  Swamp  Sparrow,  just  as  with  the  Chestnut-side.  The 
imitation  was  equally  adequate  and  convincing,  and  was  repeated  many 
times  ;  —  a  long,  loud,  rattling  Swamp  Sparrow  trill,  ending  with  a  few 
normal  witti-titty  notes  of  Yellow-throat  song.  Like  the  Chestnut- 
side,  too,  this  bird  lived  among  Swamp  Sparrows.  Their  clear  chant 
seems  to  be  peculiarly  catching. 

"Among  the  Yellow-throat's  several  peculiar  call-notes,  none  is 
more  characteristic  than  the  grating,  wren-like  Brrrrrr  —  a  little, 
long-drawn  snarl,  —  which  does  not  seem  often  to  have  been  described. 
Its  flight-song,  uttered  from  a  height  of  five  to  fifty  feet  above  the 
bush-tops,  is  made,  like  the  Oven-bird's,  of  a  hurried  jumble  of  ordin- 
ary song  and  different  song  and  call-notes.  It  is  uttered  oftenest  in 
late  summer,  but  is  far  from  rare  throughout  the  breeding  season,  from 
April  onwards."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Miss  Paddock  sends  four  notations  : 


*  >rn 

-£  J  L  LLLL  j&        -- 

—  y— 


J  JT] 


FLORIDA   YELLOW-THROAT 


257 


Nesting  Site. — On  the  ground,  at  the  base  of  a  bush  or  bunch  of 
weeds,  often  in  a  clump  of  weeds  or  tussock  of  grass,  sometimes  in 
bushes  or  briery  tangles  as  high  as  five  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest. — The  nest  is  bulky  and  loosely  made.  Externally  it  is  com- 
posed of  coarse  grasses,  leaves,  grapevine  bark,  weed-shreds,  etc., 
internally,  of  fine  grasses  and,  sometimes,  horse-hairs. 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  a  clear  glossy  white, 
marked  with  specks,  spots,  blotches  and  in  some  cases  irregular  hair- 
like  lines  of  reddish  brown,  dark  umber  and  purplish  black,  the  latter 
appearing  in  heavy  blotches  of  color;  some  specimens  are  very  spar- 
ingly marked,  others  more  profusely,  the  markings  being  mostly  con- 
fined to  the  large  end  in  form  of  a  wreath  more  or  less  well  defined, 
only  in  a  few  examples  do  the  markings  occur  over  rest  of  egg.  Size ; 
average,  7IX.54;  extremes,  .76x^6,  .6ox.5o.  (Figs.  107-109.) 

Nesting  Dates. — West  Chester,  Pa.,  May  26- June  10  (Jackson)  ; 
Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May  i8-June  2  (Jacobs)  ;  New  York  City,  May  25- 
June  15  (F.  M.  C.)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  28- June  18  (Bishop)  ; 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying,  May  25-June  5  (Brewster)  ; 
Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  3-21  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  May  28-June 
12  (Knight)  ;  Listowel,  Ont,  June  9-22  (Kells)  ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May  5- 
June  20  (Jones)  ;  Milton  Tp.,  Du  Page  Co.,  Ills.,  May  25  (Gault). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

C.  S.  PHILLIPS,  The  Maryland  Yellow-throat  (in  Mass.),  Young  Oologist, 
I,  1884,  156.  (2)  E.  P.  BICKNELL,  A  Study  of  the  Singing  of  our  Birds,  Auk, 
I,  1884,  215.  (3)  J.  P.  N  [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  the  Maryland  Yellow- 
throat,  Orn.  and  O61.,  XVI,  1891,  150. 

FLORIDA  YELLOW-THROAT 

GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS  IGNOTA    (Chap.) 

Subspecific  Characters.  —  Similar  to  Geothlypis  t.  trichas  but  with 
longer  tarsus,  tail,  and  bill;  wing  more  rounded,  outer  primary  shorter  than 
sixth  from  it;  adult  <$  with  yellow  below  of  a  deeper  shade  and  greater  extent; 
flanks  darker,  richer  brown;  upperparts  browner,  particularly  the  hindhead; 
facial  mask  wider,  its  grayish  margin  usually  broader.  Adult  ?  darker  above, 
throat  and  upper  breast  yellower,  flanks  browner  than  in  $  of  trichas. 
Ad.  <£  wing,  2.25;  tail,  2.32;  tarsus,  .84;  bill,  .50. 

General  Distribution. — Southeastern  United  States  and  Gulf  coast 
to  Texas. 


258  FLORIDA   YELLOW-THROAT 

Summer  Range. — Florida  west  along  the  coast  to  Louisiana  and 
doubtless  northeastern  Texas;  north  along  the  coast  to  the  Dismal 
Swamp,  Virginia. 

Winter  Range. — South  Carolina  to  Cuba. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  Florida  this  resident  form  of  the 
Yellow-throat  is  so  commonly  found  only  in  scrub  palmettos  that  it  is 
known  as  the  'Palmetto  Bird.'  I  have  also  found  it  about  the  bushy 
borders  of  'bay-galls'  surrounded  by  scrub  palmetto,  while  in  the  Kis- 
simmee  region  it  lives  in  the  lower  growth  (largely  young  palms)  of 
cabbage  palms. 

In  Virginia  W.  Palmer  found  this  bird  in  cypress  swamps  and 
canebrakes.  In  Mississippi  Allison  (MS.)  writes  that  it  frequents 
"heavy  thickets  of  blackberry,  trumpet  creeper,  and  the  other  wayside 
vines  of  the  South ;  rank  weeds ;  hedges  of  Cherokee  rose ; — in  short, 
all  thickets  not  shaded  by  woods,  attract  this  Warbler.  On  the  Gulf 
coast,  it  is  frequent  in  thickets  of  reeds  in  the  salt  marshes." 

Song. — The  song  of  this  bird,  as  I  have  heard  it  in  Florida,  is 
full  and  strong  and  while  unmistakably  that  of  a  Yellow  -throat,  is  still 
recognizably  different  from  that  of  the  Yellow-throats  about  New  York 
City. 

"The  usual  note  is  a  drawling  chip,  sometimes  prolonged  as  if  the 
bird  were  exhausted.  The  song  is  generally  uttered  from  a  perch  more 
elevated  than  the  low  thicket  in  which  most  of  the  time  is  spent,  and 
the  singer  elevates  the  head  and  depresses  the  tail  in  the  manner  of  a 
wren ;  it  is  variously  rendered,  but  the  most  poetic  and  accurate  version 
is,  Witchery,  witchery,  witchery  often  somewhat  extended:  IVitchcr- 
cheree,  witcher-cheree,  witcher-cheree.  There  is  considerable  indi- 
vidual variation.  It  is  uttered  all  through  the  spring  and  summer;  l>ut 
in  early  spring  a  more  elaborate  song,  reminding  me  somewhat  of  the 
Hooded  Warbler's,  is  rather  frequent.  The  flight  song  begins  as  the 
singer  launches  forth  from  his  thicket,  reaches  its  climax  at  a  height  of 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  when  the  head  is  thrown  back  as  when  singing  at 
rest,  and  gradually  dies  away  as  the  bird  sinks  down  with  rapidly  vi- 
brating wings ;  it  resembles  the  following :  Chee,  chee,  chce,  chee,  che- 
witchery,  witchery,  witchery,  witchery."  (Allison,  MS.) 

Eggs. — -4.  or  5.  Ground  color,  markings,  etc.,  the  same  as  in  the 
Northern  Yellow-throat.  Size ;  an  average  set  of  4  eggs  from  Florida 
measures,  7ix.55,  7OX.53,  7ix.54,  72X.55. 

Nesting  Dates.— Charleston,  S.  C,  May  Q-June  11  (Wayne). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 
(i)  ELLIOTT  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Phila.,  1871,  20. 


Figs.    97-  99.  Townsend's  Warbler. 
"     100,  101.  Kentucky  Warbler. 
"     102,  103.  Mourning  Warbler. 
"     104-106.  Macgillivray's  Warbler. 
"     107-109.  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 
"     110-112.  Yellow-breasted  Chat. 


Figs.  113-115.  Hooded  Warbler. 
"     116-118.   Pileolated  Warbler. 
"     119-121.  Canada  Warbler. 
"     122-124.  American  Redstart. 
"    125. 126.  Painted  Redstart. 


WESTERN  YELLOW-THROAT  259 

WESTERN  YELLOW-THROAT 

GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS  OCCIDENTALIS    Brewst. 

Subspecific  Characters. — The  largest  and  most  richly  colored  of  our  Yellow- 
throats;  the  underparts  are  often  continuously  orange-yellow  from  throat  to 
crissum,  the  sides  being  brownish,  the  belly  washed  with  the  same  color.  As  a 
rule,  however,  the  belly  shows  some  buffy  whitish,  though  rarely  as  much  as 
in  trichas;  the  back  averages  grayer  than  in  trichas,  but  the  main 
character  of  this  form  is  the  broad,  nearly  white  but  sometimes  yellow-tinged, 
posterior  border  of  the  black  mask  of  breeding  specimens.  Arizona  specimens 
average,  wing,  2.30;  tail,  2.10;  bill,  .44.  A  specimen  from  Fort  Custer  measures, 
wing,  2.38;  tail,  2.20;  bill,  .42. 

General  Range. — Western  United  States. 

Summer  Range. — Northern  Mexico,  north  to  the  Canadian  border, 
east  to  the  Great  Plains,  west  to  California,  reaching  the  coast  in  the 
southern  half  of  the  state.  The  bird's  exact  relations  with  G.  t.  arizela 
in  California  remain  to  be  determined. 

Winter  Range. — Southern  California  (there  a  permanent  resident 
=G.  t.  scirpicola  Grinnell),  and  the  Mexican  border  south  into 
Mexico. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  its  general  habits  the  Western  Yel- 
low-throat so  closely  resembles  its  eastern  relatives  that  observers  have 
considered  a  statement  to  this  effect,  all  that  was  necessary  in  recording 
its  status.  Cooke  states  that  in  Colorado  it  is  a  common  summer  resi- 
dent almost  confined  to  the  plains,  though  it  has  been  found  breeding 
as  high  as  9,000  feet. 

At  Flathead  Lake,  Montana,  Silloway  lists  it  as  not  uncommon  in 
the  bushes  along  Crow  Creek,  and  common  in  the  bushes  and  weeds  of 
Daphnia  Pond.  In  Nevada,  Ridgway  "found  this  bird  abundant  in  all 
the  bushy  localities  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  but  it  was  confined  to  the 
lower  portions,  never  being  seen  high  up  on  the  mountains,  nor  even  in 
the  lower  portions  of  the  mountain  canons."  (B.  B.  &  R.) 

Walter  Fisher,  however,  writes  that  it  occurs  about  Lake  Tahoe, 
his  statement  of  its  status  in  California  being  as  follows :  "The  Western 
Yellow-throat  ranges  into  California  by  way  of  the  back-door  and 
occurs  very  locally  the  whole  length  of  the  state,  east  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  Mountains.  It  pushes  westward  into  the  Shasta  Valley,  north 
of  Mount  Shasta,  and  ascends  the  Sierras  as  high  as  about  6,000  feet 
(Lake  Tahoe).  In  the  coast  district  of  southern  California,  south  of 
latitude  35°,  it  is  a  permanent  resident  of  the  freshwater  tule  beds,  this 
resident  form  having  been  separated  under  the  name  scirpicola. 
Wherever  the  tule  or  bulrush  is  found  whether  in  marshes  or  by 
streams,  lakes,  or  even  spring-holes,  the  Yellow-throat  takes  up  its 


2<5o  PACIFIC  YELLOW-THROAT 

abode,  many  miles  of  arid  unfavorable  country  often  separating  neigh- 
boring colonies." 

Eggs. — 4  or  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  and  markings  the  same  in 
all  respects  as  in  the  eastern  subspecies.  Size ;  a  set  of  4  from  Utah 
measures,  74X.54,  74x-54>  73x-54  and  7$x.54. 

PACIFIC  YELLOW-THROAT 

GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS  ARIZELA   Ober. 

Subspecific  Characters. — In  Oregon,  as  far  east,  at  least,  as  the  Klamath 
Lakes,  Washington,  and  British  Columbia  the  breeding  Yellow-throat  shows  an 
approach  to  the  eastern  form  in  the  decrease  in  yellow  on  the  underparts,  and 
the  somewhat  narrower  margin  of  the  grayish  border  to  the  black  mask.  These 
characters,  however,  are  variable,  some  specimens  having  the  mask  border  fully 
as  wide  as  in  extreme  examples  of  occidentalis  though  it  averages  a  shade 
bluer  in  color. 

In  central  California,  whether  in  the  interior  or  on  the  coast,  the  name 
arizela  can  be  applied  with  no  precision.  Breeding  specimens  from  Stockton 
may  be  referred  to  either  arizela  or  occidentalis  and,  in  fact,  have  been  referred 
to  both.  A  breeding  bird  from  Monterey  is  assuredly  to  be  referred  to  occiden- 
talis rather  than  to  arizela. 

Specimens  from  Westminster,  Ducks,  Revelstoke,  and  Banff  exhibit  the 
intermediate  character  which  distinguishes  arizela  and  it  may  possibly  prove  to 
be  desirable  to  restrict  this  name  to  the  Yellow-throats  breeding  at  the  northern 
part  of  the  range  of  occidentalis.  Wing,  2.20;  tail,  2.10;  bill,  .42. 

General  Distribution. — Northwestern  United  States  and  southern 
British  Columbia. 

Summer  Range. — Northern  California,  Oregon,  Washington,  and 
southern  British  Columbia  eastward,  at  least,  to  Banff.  (See,  however, 
under  a  discussion  of  the  bird's  characters.) 

Winter  Range. — Mexico. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  the  vast  tule-grown  areas  of  the 
Klamath  Lake  region  this  bird  was  even  more  abundant  than  I  have 
ever  found  the  eastern  form,  which,  it  may  be  added,  it  resembles  in 
actions. 

Walter  Fisher  (MS.)  writes  of  this  form:  "In  California  the 
Pacific  Yellow-throat  breeds  in  favorable  spots  west  of  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vada and  north  of  the  Tehachapi  Mountains.  Like  other  Yellow-throats 
it  is  local  in  occurrence,  frequenting  tule  patches  that  border  sloughs, 
lakes  or  sluggish  rivers.  In  the  northwest  coast  district  the  patches  of 
high  grass  and  tule  are  usually  of  limited  extent,  so  that  the  colonies  are 
small,  but  along  the  sloughs  of  Gear  Lake  the  birds  are  abundant" 

Song. — The  song  resembles  in  form  that  of  the  eastern  Yellow- 
throat  but  differs  from  it  sufficiently  to  sound  somewhat  strange  and 
unfamiliar  to  ears  accustomed  to  the  song  of  North  Atlantic  coast  birds 


SALT  MARSH  YELLOW-THROAT  261 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4.  The  eggs  of  this  subspecies  are  not  so 
profusely  marked  and  average  somewhat  smaller  than  those  of  the 
eastern  forms ;  more  of  the  irregular  hair  like  lines,  so  common  to  eggs 
of  the  Orioles  and  Blackbirds,  occur  in  some  examples,  forming  a 
regular  network  about  the  large  end,  the  rest  of  the  egg  being  almost 
entirely  free  from  markings.  Size;  average,  7OX.53. 

Nesting  Dates. — Tacoma,  Wash.,  May  4,  half  incubated-June  10, 
one-third  incubated  (Bowles). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  J.  C.  MERRILL,  Birds  of  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  Auk,  V,  1888,  362.  (2) 
W.  L.  FINLEY,  Two  Oregon  Warblers,  Condor,  VI,  1904,  31.  (3)  A.  W. 
JOHNSON,  Notes  on  Unusual  Nesting  Sites  of  the  Pacific  Yellow-throat,  Condor, 
VI,  1904,  129. 

SALT  MARSH  YELLOW-THROAT 

GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS  SINUOSA  Grinnell 

Subspecific  Characters. — This  small  race  of  the  Yellow-throat  appears  to 
resemble  specimens  of  Geothlypis  trichas  arizela  having  the  posterior  border  to 
the  black  mask  narrower  and  darker  than  in  occidentalis.  It  may  always  be 
known,  however,  by  its  small  size.  Wing,  2.00;  tail,  1. 80;  bill,  .40. 

General  Distribution. — Permanent  resident  of  the  salt  marshes 
about  San  Francisco  Bay. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  is  not  only  the  smallest  of  the 
Yellow-throats,  but  it  has  the  most  restricted  range.  Walter  Fisher 
(MS.)  writes:  "This  race  dwells  in  the  salt  marshes  surrounding  San 
Francisco  Bay,  California.  These  diminutive,  rather  deeply-colored 
birds  are  found  in  the  tules  and  tall  grasses  bordering  the  almost  in- 
numerable sloughs  which  meander  the  broad  salicornia-covered  flats. 
It  is  a  permanent  resident,  whereas  the  Yellow-throat  which  occurs 
in  fresh-water  swamps  to  the  north  and  south,  is  a  migratory  race." 

Eggs. — 4.  The  eggs  of  this  race  resemble  in  character  those  of 
Geothlypis  trichas  occidentalis. 

BELDiNG'S  YELLOW-THROAT 

GEOTHLYPIS  BELDINGI  Ridgway 

Distinguishing  Characters. — A  black  masked  Yellow-throat  much  larger 
than  any  member  of  the  G.  trichas  group,  with  the  mask  of  the  <?  bordered 
posteriorly  by  yellow.  Length  (skin),  5.75;  wing,  2.70;  tail,  2.40;  bill,  .60. 

Adult  d,  Spring. — A  broad  band  across  the  forehead  and  on  the  cheeks 
and  ear-coverts  black,  bordered  behind  by  yellow ;  rest  of  upperparts,  wings  and 
tail  olive-green,  no  white  markings;  underparts  entirely  yellow.  In  about 


262  BELDING'S   YELLOW-THROAT 

one-half  the  large  number  of  specimens  examined  the  black  of  the  head  is 
wider  on  the  left  side  than  on  the  right,  its  posterior  margin,  therefore,  pass- 
ing diagonally  from  right  to  left. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <$  in  Spring  but  back  browner,  nape  and 
flanks  strongly  washed  with  brown  which  partly  conceals  the  yellow  behind 
the  black  'mask'. 

Young  <£  Fall. — Like  the  adult  cf  in  Fall  but  black  band  on  forehead  not 
so  wide,  and  tipped  posteriorly  with  grayish.  There  is,  however,  much  less  dif- 
ference than  in  G.  trichas,  the  black  cheeks  being  acquired  by  beldingi  in  the 
first  Fall. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Above  olive-green,  forehead  more  yellow;  below  yellow 
becoming  paler  on  the  abdomen  and  more  olive  on  the  flanks. 

Adult  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Spring  but  browner  above,  especially 
on  crown,  sides  strongly  washed  with  brownish. 
Young  $,  Fall.— Resembles  adult  $  in  Fall. 

Nestling. — Above  grayish  cinnamon-brown;  below  brownish  white;  wing- 
coverts  fuscous  tipped  with  rusty  buff.  Paler  and  less  olive  above  than  nestling 
of  trichas. 

General  Distribution. — Resident  in  Lower  California,  northward 
to  San  Ignacio  on  the  west  coast  and  Comondu  on  the  east  coast. 
(Brewster3.) 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — At  San  Jose  del  Cabo,  Lower  Cali- 
fornia, Frazar,  as  recorded  by  Brewster3,  found  this  well-differentiated 
form  of  Yellow-throat  an  abundant  inhabitant  of  rushes  often  where 
the  water  was  three  or  four  feet  deep. 

At  Comondu,  Bryant2  found  it  common,  keeping  "mainly  within 
the  bulrushes  and  bushes  of  the  creek." 

Song. — Brewster8,  quoting  Frazar,  says  that  "the  song  resembles 
that  of  the  Maryland  [=Northern]  Yellow -throat,  but  is  so  much 
heavier  and  fuller  that  it  can  be  easily  recognized."  He  adds  that  "the 
bird  occasionally  mounts  into  the  air  and  sings  on  the  wing." 

Bryant2  writes:  "I  frequently  heard  them  singing,  sometimes  in 
the  top  of  a  low  tree.  Their  notes  are  rather  loud  and  quite  clear,  an 
interval  of  a  few  seconds  occurring  between  each  song." 

Nesting  Site. — Loosely  woven  in  cat-tails.    (Bryant1.). 

Nest.— Bryant1  describes  a  nest  found  at  Comondu  as  resembling 
some  Song  Sparrows'  nests  and  being  thinly  lined  with  fine  fiber  and 
horse  hair. 

Eggs. — The  nests  discovered  by  Bryant  contained  from  two  to 
four  eggs  each,  but  the  set  of  two  was  probably  abnormal.  These 
eggs  are  described  as  "white,  with  shell-spots  and  dots  of  lilac-gray 
and  a  few  surface  spots  and  pencilings  of  black."  Size;  as  given  by 
Bryant  (converted  from  millimeters),  average,  -77X.59;  extremes 
•76x.59,  77X.57,  77x.6i. 


RIO  GRANDE  YELLOW-THROAT  263 

Nesting  Date. — Comondu,  Lower  California,  March  25  (Bryant). 
BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  BEYANT,  A  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Lower  Calif.,  Proc. 
Calif.  Acad.  Sci.  2nd  Ser.  II,  1889,  20.  (2)  Ibid.,  310.  (3)  WM.  BREWSTER, 
Birds  of  the  Cape  Region  of  Lower  California,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  XLI, 
1902,  187. 

Genus  CHAALETHLYPIS  Ridgway 

Chamathlypis  appears  to  be  a  connectant  between  Icteria  and  Geo- 
thlypis.  In  general  appearance  it  suggests  Geothlypis  but  the  bill  is 
stouter  and  strongly,  decurved,  in  fact,  chat-like ;  the  wing  is  even  more 
rounded  than  in  Geothlypis  but  the  tail  is  decidedly  longer  than  in  that 
genus.  The  two  known  species  inhabit  Central  America  and  Mexico 
and  one  of  them  reaches  our  limits  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande. 

Rio  GRANDE  YELLOW-THROAT 

CHAALETHLYPIS  POLIOCEPHALA  POLIOCEPHALA  (Baird!    Plate XVII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  heavy,  curved  bill,  slaty  head  and  black 
lores,  in  connection  with  the  yellow  throat,  distinguish  this  species  from  any 
other  of  our  Warblers.  Length  (skin),  5.25;  wing,  2.15;  tail,  2.35;  bill,  .50. 

Adult  3,  Spring. — Crown  slaty  with  a  slight  olive  wash,  lores  black,  this 
color  extending  below  the  eye;  a  white  mark  on  eye-ring  above  and  below 
the  eye;  back,  wings  and  tail  olive-green  without  white  markings,  bend  of 
wing  yellow;  throat  and  breast  bright  yellow  becoming  paler  on  the  belly  and 
brownish  on  the  flanks. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — "Similar  to  the  Spring  and  Summer  plumage,  but  plumage 
softer,  more  blended ;  back,  etc.,  more  buffy  olive  or  bright  olive-brown ;  feathers 
of  pileum  (at  least  the  occiput)  tipped  with  brown,  and  flanks  more  decidedly 
buffy."  (Ridgw.) 

Young  <$,  Fall. — "Similar  in  general  to  the  adult  plumage,  but  duller,  the 
pileum  concolor  with  back,  or  nearly  so,  and  lores  dull  brownish  gray  or  dusky, 
not  distinctly  different  from  color  of  pileum."  (Ridgw.) 

Adult  and  young  ?. — Resemble  young  <$  in  Fall. 

Nestling. — Not  seen. 

General  Distribution. — Northeastern  Mexico  north  to  Browns- 
ville, Texas. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Nothing  appears  to  have  been  written 
concerning  the  habits  of  this  species. 

Genus  ICTERIA  Vieillot 

Icteria  virens,  the  single  species  in  this  genus,  is  our  largest  mem- 
ber of  the  family  Mniotiltidae.  In  addition  to  size  it  is  further  distin- 


264  YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT 

guished  by  its  short,  stout,  vertically  compressed,  strongly  arched,  un- 
notched  bill ;  rounded  wings,  as  short  as  or  shorter  than  the  tail,  and 
rounded  tail. 

Icteria  is  found  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  breeds  southward  to  the  Valley  of  Mexico.  It  appears  not  to  occur 
in  Florida  or  the  West  Indies. 

YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT 

ICTERIA  VIRENS  VIRENS  (Linn.)    Plate  XXI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  Chat  is  the  largest  of  our  Warblers  and, 
in  connection  with  its  size,  may  be  known  by  its  large  bill,  white  line  from  the 
base  of  bill  and  bright  yellow  throat  and  breast.  Length  (skin),  6.40;  wing, 
2.95;  tail,  2.90;  bill,  .55. 

Adult  c?,  Spring. — Upperparts,  wings,  and  tail  olive-green;  bend  of  wing 
and  under  wing-coverts  yellow ;  line  from  nostril  over  eye,  upper  and  lower 
portions  of  eye-ring,  and  a  short  line  from  lower  mandible  at  the  side  of  the 
throat,  white;  lores  black;  auriculars  grayish;  throat  and  breast  bright  yellow, 
lower  abdomen  and  crissum  white,  the  flanks  olive  or  brownish ;  bill  shining 
black. 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in   Spring  but  slightly  greener  above, 
flanks  and  crissum  browner;  upper  mandible  brownish,  lower,  horn  color. 
Young  £,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  lores  grayer. 
Adult  $,  Spring. — Not  always  distinguishable  from  adult  c?  in  Spring  but 
generally  duller  in  color,  lores  grayish,  the  lower  mandible  basally  paler. 
Young  ?,  Fall. — Not  seen,  doubtless  closely  resembles  young  c?  in  Fall. 
Nestling. — Above  dull  brownish  gray  with  an  olive  tinge;  a  narrow  white 
superciliary  line ;  wings  and  tail  dull  olive-green ;  throat  and  belly  white,  flanks 
brownish,  breast  with  an  olive-gray  band. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States. 
Summer  Range. — Chats  do  not  occur  in  Florida,  but  from  northern 
Georgia  and  the  Gulf  states,  and  west  to  the  Plains,  they  are  common 
north  to  southern  New  York  and  Iowa ;  they  also  occur  less  commonly 
to  southern  New  England,  Massachusetts  (rare  and  local),  Vermont 
(Pownal,  June  16,  1896),  Maine  (accidental,  Portland,  North  Bridg- 
ton,  Elliott),  New  York  (Albany,  West  Seneca,  Oneida,  Orleans,  and 
Yates  Counties),  Ohio  (Oberlin),  southern  Ontario  (Hamilton,  Water- 
down,  Point  Pelee),  Michigan  (Detroit,  Grosse  Pointe  Farms),  Wis- 
consin (Stevens  Point),  Minnesota. 

Winter  Range, — Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 

Spring  Migration. — The  summer  home  of  the  Chat  extends  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  The  species  has  been  separated  into  an 
eastern  and  a  western  form,  and  in  the  following  tables,  the  notes  for 
Colorado  and  the  Pacific  Coast  refer  to  the  western  form  (Icteria 
virens  hngicaitda"},  the  rest  to  the  eastern  form  (Icteria  virens 


PLATE  XXI 


1.  HOODED  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  HOODED  WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 


3.  HOODED  WARBLER,  YOUNG   FEMALE. 

4.  YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT,  ADULT. 


YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT 


265 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 

•i 

April  17 

8 

April  21 

Southeastern  South  Carolina 

April  25 

Raleigh   N    C 

16 

April  23 

April  18*  1888 

Asheville,  N.  C.  (near)   
Variety  Mills    Va 

6 

17 

April  26 
April  29 

April  21,  1891 
April  18    1896 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  W.  Va.  .  . 
French  Creek    W   Va 

5 
5 

May      2 
May      I 

April  29,  1897 

Washington    D    C 

May      i 

Beaver    Pa 

May      2 

Berwin    Pa 

May      9 

g 

May      8 

Englewood   N    J 

7 

May      9 

May      5    1886 

4 

May    13 

Mav      8    1804 

Mav    is 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans,  La      

5 

April  19 

April  ii    1903 

Southern  Mississippi   

5 

April  18 

April  17    1890 

Helena    Ark 

7 

April  22 

Eubank    Ky 

JI 

April  23 

St   Louis    Mo 

6 

Aprli  24 

Brookville     Ind 

6 

April  30 

April  26    1886 

Oberlin    O 

10 

May      5 

May      i      003 

Chicago    111                                   

May    16 

Rockford    111 

c 

May     17 

May     12     880 

Keokuk    la                            

IO 

May      3 

April  28     896 

Hillsboro    la                     

e 

May      i 

April  26    1897 

Indianola    la                 

4 

May      7 

May      4    1902 

§ 

May      6 

May      i    1887 

Iowa    Citv     la             

5 

May      5 

May      2    1891 

Western  United  States- 
Fort   Brown    Texas 

4 

March  30 

San  Antonio    Texas                    .... 

c 

April  10 

April    5    1890 

Northern  Texas                  

6 

April  19 

April  16    1886 

Onaga    Kans                        

ii 

May      4 

April  26    1896 

Southeastern   Nebraska    
Central  Colorado         

7 
5 

May      6 
May    1  8 

April  29,  1886 
May    14    1894 

Southern  California  

4 

April  18 

April    5    1885 

Central   California    

5 

April  22 

April  14,  1885 

Chelan    Wash 

May    28    1896 

Fall  Migration. — The  Chat  migrates  early.  It  deserts  the  northern 
limit  of  its  range  in  August  and  by  the  first  of  September  few  are  left 
north  of  39  degrees  latitude.  Some  dates  of  the  last  noted  are  at 
Englewood,  N.  J.,  August  29,  1885;  Renovo,  Pa.,  September  21,  1897; 
Berwyn,  Pa.,  September  2,  1898 ;  Washington,  D.  C.,  September  19, 
1886;  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  September  i,  1888;  Brookville,  Ind.,  September 
7,  1886;  Bicknell,  Ind.,  September  27,  1894;  Chicago,  Ills.,  August  16, 


266  YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT 

1895;  Hillsboro,  la.,  September  4,  1898;  Onaga,  Kan.,  September  21, 
1897;  New  Orleans,  La.,  September  12,  1899;  Bonham,  Texas.,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1889. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — Assuredly  no  other  Warbler,  and  in- 
deed few  of  our  passerine  birds,  are  possessed  of  the  Chat's  individ- 
uality. Its  characteristics  of  form,  habits,  and  notes  are  exceptionally 
pronounced  and,  in  consequence,  we  have  here  a  bird  of  more  than 
usual  interest 

Although  the  Chat  avoids  rather  than  seeks  observation,  he  by 
no  means  shuns  the  haunts  of  man  and  when  favorable  cover  was 
available  I  have  known  these  birds  to  nest  in  a  village.  Generally, 
however,  the  tangled  undergrowth  which  the  Chat  requires  disappears 
as  the  human  population  increases  and,  for  the  Chat,  only  the  waste 
places  are  left.  Not  only  does  the  dense,  often  briery  growth,  which  this 
bird  requires,  develop  more  freely  near  water  but  here,  because  of  the 
often  less  habitable  nature  of  the  ground,  it  is  left  longest  and  for 
these  reasons  one  generally  finds  the  Chat  in  wet  or  swampy  places, 
though  he  evidently  is  quite  as  contented  in  upland  thickets,  when  they 
are  available. 

No  small  part  of  the  impression  the  Chat  creates  is  due  to  the 
nature  of  his  haunts.  In  them  he  has  the  bird  student  at  complete  dis- 
advantage. When  seemingly  almost  within  reach  he  is  still  invisible; 
and  one  might  well  imagine  that  he  intentionally  led  us  through  the 
most  impenetrable  part  of  his  home  merely  to  enjoy  our  futile  efforts 
to  see  him.  To  the  Chat,  therefore,  more  than  to  any  other  American 
bird,  might  be  applied  Wordsworth's  familiar  lines : 

"O  Cuckoo!   Shall  I  call  thee  bird 
Or  but  a  wandering  voice?" 

If,  however,  you  would  see  the  Chat  satisfactorily,  fight  him 
with  his  own  fire.  Seat  yourself  in  the  thicket  where  as  pursuer  you 
are  at  the  bird's  mercy,  and  with  pursed  lips  squeak  gently  but  persist- 
ently. Soon  there  will  be  an  answering  chut,  and  with  due  patience 
and  discretion  you  may  induce  this  elusive  creature  to  appear  before 
you. 

I  do  not  recall  a  more  suspicious  bird  than  the  Chat.  Even  the 
Crow's  innate  caution  is  sometimes  forgotten ;  but  a  Chat  is  always  on 
guard.  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  no  one  has  as  yet  succeeded  in  photo- 
graphing a  Chat  on  its  nest.  F.  L.  Burns  (MS.)  writes  that  "the  nest 
is  watched  very  closely  although  its  owner  is  seldom  flushed  from  it. 
while  a  disturbed  nest  will  almost  invariably  be  deserted  after  the 
bird  has  pierced  or  broken  its  eggs.  While  the  Cowbird  frequently 


YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT  267 

deposits  her  egg  in  the  Chat's  nest  it  is  never  incubated  but  is  destroyed 
by  the  bird  with  her  own." 

Song. — As  a  vocalist  the  Chat  is  unique  among  the  Warblers,  and 
indeed,  so  far  as  my  experience  goes,  among  birds  at  large.  No 
description  does  justice  to  his  singular  medley  of  calls  and  whistles. 
Heard  at  night,  when,  especially  if  it  be  moonlight,  the  Chat  often 
sings  freely,  the  performance  takes  high  rank  among  the  songs  of 
North  American  birds;  not  for  its  fluency  or  spiritual  quality,  but  for 
its  striking  originality.  The  Chat's  calls  are  an  emphatic  chut  chut 
and  an  intense,  concentrated  kee-yuck. 

"Regularly  up  to  the  middle  of  July,  and  sometimes  through  the 
third  or  even  fourth  week  of  the  month,  this  species  continues  in  song. 
Imperfect  songs  may  be  heard  in  early  August,  but  rarely  later, 
although  my  record  extends  to  August  14.  Dates  of  fairly  perfect  final 
songs  range  between  July  15  and  August  I."  (Bicknell2). 

"The  voice  of  this  bird  is  flexible  to  an  almost  unlimited  degree.  It 
has  no  notes  suggesting  its  place  among  the  Warblers.  Perhaps  the 
commonest  note  is  a  harsh,  rather  nasal,  chuck,  often  prolonged  into 
chuck-uck.  The  song  is  almost  impossible  to  describe;  it  begins  with 
two  slow,  deep  notes;  then  follows  one  high-pitched  and  interrogative 
note ;  then  several,  rapid  and  even,  and  from  that  point  on  to  the  end, 
I  have  never  been  able  to  give  any  rendering  of  the  clucking  and  gurg- 
ling that  completes  the  long  song.  As  far  as  I  have  described,  it  may 
be  rendered  thus:  Quoort-quoort !  wheef  whew-whew-whew ! 

"It  is  generally  uttered  from  a  perch  at  or  near  the  top  of  a  small 
tree  among  the  thickets ;  but  often  the  bird  mounts  high  into  the  largest 
tree  available — but  never  far  from  the  heavy  undergrowth, — utters 
part  of  the  song  there,  then  launches  into  the  air,  wings  held  high,  and 
flapping  slowly,  almost  meeting  over  the  back;  legs  dangling,  and 
tail  wagging  extravagantly  up  and  down.  Singing  madly,  he  lets  him- 
self slowly  down,  and  finally  drops  into  the  thicket."  (Allison,  MS.). 

"His  love  song  is  a  woodland  idyl  and  makes  up  for  much  of  his 
short  comings.  From  some  elevated  perch  from  which  he  can  survey 
the  surrounding  waste  for  a  considerable  distance  he  flings  himself  into 
the  air,  straight  up  he  goes  on  fluttering  wings — legs  dangling,  head 
raised,  his  whole  being  tense,  and  spasmodic  with  ecstasy.  As  he  rises 
he  pours  forth  a  flood  of  musical  gurgles,  and  whistles  that  drop  from 
him  in  silvery  cascades  to  the  ground,  like  sounds  of  fairy  chimes. 
As  he  reaches  the  apex  of  his  flight,  his  wings  redouble  their  beatings, 
working  straight  up  and  down,  while  the  legs  hanging  limply  down, 


268  LONG-TAILED  CHAT 

remind  the  observer  of  drawings  we  sometimes  sec  from  the  brushes 
of  Japanese  artists.  He  holds  his  hovering  position  for  an  instant  then 
the  music  gradually  dies  away  and  as  htf  sinks  toward  the  ground,  he 
regains  his  natural  poise,  and  seeks  another  perch  like  that  from  which 
he  started."  (Taverner3.) 

Nesting  Site. — The  nest  is  placed  in  a  small  bush  or  sapling,  or 
among  briers  at  from  one  to  five,  but,  usually,  about  three  feet  from 
the  ground. 

Xest. — Nests  from  near  New  York  are  coarse,  bulky  but  rather 
compact  structures  made  chiefly  of  dried  grasses,  leaves,  grapevine 
and  inner  bark,  and  all  lined  chiefly  with  fine  grasses.  The  use  of 
coarse  grasses  exteriorly  and  the  absence  of  rootlets  in  the  lining  appear 
to  be  characteristic. 

Eggs- — 3  to  5>  usually  4,  very  rarely  5.  Ground  color  a 
clear  white  sometimes  tinged  with  pinkish;  again  a  greenish  shade 
is  noticeable ;  the  majority  of  specimens  show  a  high  gloss ;  the  mark- 
ings consist,  for  the  most  part,  of  specks  and  spots,  but  often  good 
sized  blotches  occur,  these  are  either  well  distributed  over  the  entire 
egg  or  clouded  together  at  the  large  end  usually  in  form  of  a  wreath, 
they  are  of  varying  shades  of  reddish,  cinnamon  rufous  and  chestnut 
with  under  shell  spots  of  lavender,  in  most  specimens  the  markings 
are  very  bold  and  well  defined.  Size ;  average,  .88x.68 ;  extremes, 
.96x71,  74x.6o,  .86x72,  76x.68.  (Figs.  110-112.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Chatham  Co.,  Ga.,  May  7;  Augusta,  Ga.,  June 
23  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Iredell  Co.,  N.  C,  May  17  (C.  W .  C.)  ;  West  Chester, 
Pa.,  May  23-June  6  (Jackson)  ;  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  May  lo-july  2 
(Jacobs) ;  New  York  City,  May  23-July  6  (F.  M.  C.) ;  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  May  22-July  7  (Bishop)  ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May  15-July  15  (Jones) ; 
Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  May  26,  Trombly  (Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Observations  on  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County,  West 
Virginia,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  XI,  1875,  *37-  (2)  E.  P.  BICKNELL.  A 
Study  of  the  Singing  of  Our  Birds,  Auk,  I,  1884,  216.  (3)  P.  A.  TAVERNER, 
The  Yellow-breasted  Chat;  a  Character  Sketch,  Bird-Lore,  VIII,  1906.  131. 

LONG-TAILED  CHAT 

ICTER1A  VIRENS  LONGICAUDA  (Lawrence) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Ictcria  vircns  virens  but  wings  and 
tail  longer,  bill  more  slender,  upperparts  grayer,  yellow  averaging  deeper,  white 
stripe  at  side  of  throat  more  extended,  sometimes  passing  behind  auriculars 
Wing.  3.10;  tail.  3.40;  bill,  .57. 

General  Distribution. — Western  United  States. 


HOODED  WARBLER 


269 


Summer  Range. — Northern  Mexico,  west  to  the  Pacific;  east  to 
the  Plains;  north  to  North  Dakota  (Musselshell  River),  southern  Mon- 
tana (Missouri  and  Yellowstone  Rivers),  British  Columbia  (Sumas, 
Okanagan). 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  slightly  differentiated  form  of 
the  Chat  is  a  locally  common  bird  throughout  the  west.  So  far  as 
my  experience  goes  its  habits  differ  in  no  respect  from  those  of  the 
eastern  birds.  At  Sargents,  California,  where  the  growth  bordering 
the  river  is  strongly  eastern  in  its  general  character,  the  bird  was  not 
uncommon,  while  in  the  scrubby  pastures  in  the  Klamath  River  Valley 
at  Beswick,  and  the  bushy  hillsides  of  the  town  of  Klamath  Falls,  in 
Oregon,  it  was  as  numerous  as  I  have  ever  found  its  eastern  relative. 

Nesting  Site. — The  nest  is  placed  in  small  bushes  or  saplings  or 
among  briers  usually  at  a  height  of  from  two  to  three  feet. 

Nest. — Nests  from  Fort  Davis,  Texas,  are  described  as  composed 
of  ''dry  leaves,  strips  of  reeds  and  dry  grasses  without  a  different  lin- 
ing." (C.  W.  C.)  Sonoma  County,  California,  nests  are  described  as 
made  of  dead  leaves  and  grasses  and  lined  with  finer  grasses. 
(C.  W.  C.} 

Eggs. — Similar  to  those  of  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat,  showing 
the  same  variation,  but  averaging  a  trifle  smaller. 

Nesting  Dates. — Comal  Co.,  Texas,  April  2 ;  Fort  Davis,  Texas, 
July  16  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Tucson,  Ariz.,  June  2  (Stephens}  ;  San  Jose, 
Calif.,  May  18  (C.  W.  C.} 

Genus  WILSONIA  Bonaparte 

In  correlation  with  its  flycatching  habits  Wilsonia  has  a  flat  bill 
and  conspicuously  developed  rictal  bristles.  Measured  at  the  nostrils 
the  bill  is  as  wide  or  wider  than  it  is  high.  The  wing  is  less  than  .50 
inches  longer  than  the  tail,  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  primaries 
are  longest,  the  outer  tail-feathers  are  slightly  the  shortest;  the  feet 
are  pale,  the  tarsus  but  little  longer  than  the  middle-toe  and  claw. 

Omitting  Sylvania  meridionalis  (Pelz.),  of  Colombia  and  Ecua- 
dor, which  probably  does  not  belong  to  this  genus,  Wilsonia  contains 
three  species,  two  of  which  are  eastern,  while  the  third,  W.  pusilla, 
ranges  across  the  continent;  an  eastern,  a  Rocky  Mountain,  and  a 
Pacific  Coast  form  being  recognized. 

HOODED  WARBLER 

WILSONIA  CITRINA  (Bodd.)    Plate  XXI 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  male  of  this  beautiful  species  cannot  be 
mistaken  for  any  other  Warbler;  the  female  may  be  known  by  its  entirely 


270  HOODED  WARBLER 

yellow  undcrparts  (the  throat  often  blackish),  yellow  cheeks,  absence  of  white 
wing-bars,  and  largely  white  outer  tail-feathers.  Length  (skin),  4.00;  wing, 
2.50;  tail,  2.20;  bill,  40. 

Adult  <J,  Spring. — Forehead  and  cheeks  bright  yellow,  crown  and  nape 
shining  black  spreading  laterally  and  connected  with  the  black  throat,  rest  of 
upperparts  olive-green;  two  outer  tail-feathers  largely  white  on  inner  web, 
third  to  fourth  feathers  with  a  variable  amount  of  white ;  no  wing  bars ;  black 
of  upper  breast  sharply  denned  from  yellow  of  the  rest  of  underparts,  flanks 
slightly  greenish;  bill  black. 

Adult  c?,  /7a//.— Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring,  but  bill  brownish. 

Young  d1,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <?  in  Fall,  but  black  of  throat,  and,  to  a 
lesser  degree  of  nape,  narrowly  tipped  with  yellowish,  chin  yellower. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  the  c?  but  duller,  the  yellow  of  crown  and 
cheeks  more  or  less  washed  or  obscured  with  dusky;  the  black  'hood'  usually 
but  partly  developed  on  the  crown  and  nape,  indicated  by  a  narrow  line  border- 
ing the  auriculars,  and  a  blackish  wash  on  the  throat  or  upper  breast.  In  nine 
out  of  thirty  specimens  the  black  is  entirely  wanting,  in  one  it  is  nearly  as  well- 
developed  as  in  a  young  c?  in  the  Fall,  in  two  it  is  well-developed  only  on 
the  crown  and  nape,  while  the  remaining  eighteen  specimens  are  variously 
intermediate. 

Adult  ?,  Fall.— Not  distinguishable  from  adult  $  in  Spring. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Appears  to  have  less  black  than  the  adult  $,  and  it  is 
possible  that  the  development  of  the  'hood'  in  the  female  is  dependent  upon  age. 

Nestling. — Above  yellowish  brown,  breast  paler,  the  belly  pale  straw  yellow; 
wing-coverts  edged  with  brownish. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  United  States;  north  to  Massa- 
chusetts and  Wisconsin ;  west  nearly  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — With  the  exception  of  Texas  and  Florida,  this 
species  breeds  throughout  its  range  in  the  United  States.  It  is  an 
abundant  breeder  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  lower  Mississippi 
Valley ;  less  common  west  of  the  river  to  eastern  Kansas  ( Leaven- 
worth),  southeastern  Nebraska  (Nemaha  River),  north  to  southern 
Wisconsin  (Milwaukee),  central  Michigan,  southern  Ontario  (Port 
Rowan,  Hamilton,  Cataraqui),  central  New  York  (Oneida,  Cayuga, 
and  Wayne  Counties).  Casual  in  Massachusetts  (Brookline,  June  25, 
1879;  Provincetown,  June  25,  1888;  Taunton,  May  8,  1888;  Framing- 
ham,  October  15,  1893),  and  Rhode  Island  (Kingston).  In  migration 
it  is  common  in  northern  Florida,  rare  in  the  southern  part,  and  occurs 
in  eastern  Texas  to  San  Antonio  and  Waco.  Accidental  in  southern 
Minnesota  (Heron  Lake,  May  16,  1889),  northeastern  New  York 
(Lewis  County,  September  9,  1878),  and  southern  Maine  (Falmouth. 
September  9,  1904). 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  to  Panama. 


HOODED  WARBLER 


271 


Spring  Migration. — From  its  winter  home  the  species  reaches  the 
United  States  by  a  flight  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  avoiding  the 
West  Indies  and  (for  the  most  part)  southern  Florida. 


M.ACE 

No.  of 

years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Northern  Florida 

6 

March  28 

March  19   1885 

Southeastern  Georgia 

April    4 

March  29   1902 

Atlanta    Ga    (near) 

April  10 

April    •?    1002 

Raleigh    N    C                  

14 

April  18 

April  10   1893 

Asheville   N   C    (near)   

7 

April  19 

April  12   1893 

Lynchburg,   Va         

April  29 

April  23    1900 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  

7" 

April  17 

April  20   1891 

Washington   D    C 

May      2 

April  27   1892 

May      4 

Mav      2   1807 

Renovo    Pa                   

May    13 

May    10   1901 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans    La 

March  22 

Southern    Mississippi 

March  30 

Helena    Ark               

April  1  1 

Aoril     •*    1808 

Eubank    Ky                              

7 

April  14 

St    Louis    Mo    

6 

April  23 

Central    Indiana    

6 

April  29 

May      o 

May      8   1905 

Keokuk    la 

ATiajr             y 

The  Hooded  Warbler  has  also  been  taken  at  Chicago,  111.,  April 
28,  1884,  and  May  3,  1895,  and  a*  Grinnell,  la.,  May  18,  1888.  The 
Texas  dates  are  at  Refugio  County,  March  30,  1898,  March  13,  1899; 
San  Antonio,  March  31,  1890,  April  7,  1894;  Bee  County,  April  3, 
1886,  April  10,  1887. 

Fall  Migration. — The  fall  migration  is  hardly  in  full  swing  before 
the  latter  part  of  August.  The  earliest  dates  at  Key  West,  Fla.,  are 
August  30,  1-887,  and  August  19,  1889;  at  Truxillo,  Honduras,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1887,  and  in  southeastern  Nicaragua,  September  24,  1892. 
The  bulk  leave  the  northern  breeding  grounds  by  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember and  the  last  have  been  noted  at  Renovo,  Pa.,  Sepember  26, 
1900,  October  13,  1903;  Beaver,  Pa.,  September  25,  1890,  October  3, 
1891;  Englewood,  N.  J.,  September  15,  1886;  Washington,  D.  C. 
September  15,  1890;  French  Creek,  W.  Va.,  September  29,  1892; 
Lynchburg,  Va.,  October  10,  1899;  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  October  I,  1891; 
Asheville,  N.  C.,  September  20,  1890,  Sedan,  Ind.,  October  5,  1893; 
Brookville,  Ind.,  October  20,  1884;  Eubank,  Ky.,  September  29,  1889; 
New  Orleans,  La.,  October  19,'  1895  and  1897,  October  25,  1899.  The 
latest  record  for  the  United  States  is  the — probably  accidental — occur- 
rence of  this  species  at  Germantown,  Pa.,  November  19,  1887. 


272  HOODED    WARBLER 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — To  my  mind  there  is  no  Warbler  to 
which  that  much  misused  word  "lovely,"  may  be  so  aptly  applied  as 
to  the  present  species.  Its  beauty  of  plumage,  charm  of  voice,  and 
gentleness  of  demeanor,  make  it  indeed  not  only  a  lovely,  but  a  truly 
lovable  bird.  Doubtless,  also,  the  nature  of  the  Hooded  Warbler's 
haunts  increase  its  attractiveness,  not  merely  because  these  well- 
watered  woodlands  are  in  themselves  inviting,  but  because  they  bring 
the  bird  down  to  our  level.  This  creates  a  sense  of  companionship 
which  we  do  not  feel  with  the  birds  ranging  high  above  us,  and  at  the 
same  time  it  permits  us  to  see  this  exquisitely  clad  creature  under 
most  favorable  conditions. 

As  we  approach  the  bird's  nest  she  protests  with  a  chirp  which 
one  soon  learns  to  recognize.  It  is  not  the  sharp,  insistent  note  of  the 
Oven-bird,  but  of  a  milder  tone  uttered  as  the  bird  flits  from  bush  to 
bush  displaying  her  white  outer  tail  feathers  in  flight  or  jetting  them 
when  perching.  The  male  often  ascends  to  a  height  of  twenty  to  forty 
feet,  his  song  being  more  frequently  delivered  from  a  perch  well  above 
the  undergrowth  than  from  the  undergrowth  itself. 

In  Mississippi,  Allison  (MS.)  writes,  that  the  Hooded  Warbler 
inhabits  "low,  heavily  shaded  woods,  with  thick  undergrowth.  Where 
convenient  cover,  such  as  a  brake  of  switch-cane,  extends  to  the  border 
of  the  woods,  the  bird  has  no  objection  to  an  open,  light,  situation ; 
and  along  the  Gulf  coast,  where  the  only  swampy  situations  are  the 
narrow  'bay-galls,'  the  thickets  of  rose-bay  (Illicium)  and  azalea 
afford  sufficient  seclusion  for  a  few.  Damp  woods  such  as  are  afforded 
by  river  and  creek  bottoms,  however,  are  more  favored." 

The  same  writer  adds :  "I  find  the  following  note  on  the  behavior 
of  the  males  during  courtship  (New  Orleans,  Apr.  28):  'We  saw 
*  *  *  a  very  interesting  fight  between  two  male  Hooded  War- 
blers, for  the  possession  of  a  female;  the  two  began  the  content  in 
a  tree,  fluttered  down  into  the  mud  and  water,  and  the  upper  one.  who 
had  the  other  by  the  head,  was  in  a  fair  way  to  drown  or  disable  his 
opponent,  when  we  frightened  them  off.'  " 

Song. — The  song  of  the  Hooded  Warbler  is  distinguished  by  an 
easy,  sliding  gracefulness.  To  my  ear  the  words  you  must  conic  to 
the  woods  or  you  won't  see  me,  uttered  quickly,  and  made  to  run  one 
into  the  other  exactly  fit  the  bird's  more  prolonged  vocal  efforts  though 
they  are  far  from  agreeing  with  the  attempts  at  syllabification  of 
others.  The  call  is  a  high,  sharp  cheep,  easily  recognized  after  it 
has  been  learned. 


AMERICAN    REDSTART   CN    NEST. 
Photographed  by  T.  L.  HANKINSON,  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y 


HOODED    WARBLER   ON    NEST. 
Photographed  by  FRANK  M.  CHAPMAN,  at  Englewood,  N.  J. 


%     ** 

/  ** 


.'  s 


HOODED  WARBLER 


273 


"The  first  song-period  of  this  species  seems  rarely  to  pass  early 
July — latest  dates  July  10  and  15.  Perfect  songs  heard  in  the  fourth 
week  of  August  locate  the  second  song  period."  (Bicknell5.) 

"The  usual  note  is  a  clear  and  nervous,  but  not  metallic,  chirp. 
Little  sound  of  any  kind  is  made  in  the  fall,  when  the  chirp  is  more 
subdued.  There  are  two  common  songs,  both  uttered  on  every  possi- 
ble occasion  in  spring,  when  the  woods  are  ringing  with  them.  The 
most  frequent  is  a  short  one  of  four  syllables,  Se-whit,  se-wheer;  the 
longer  song  may  be  rendered,  Whee-whee-whee-a-wheer,"  accented  as 
marked.  A  sharper,  very  clear-cut  chirp  is  sometimes  to  be  heard  late 
in  the  evening,  about  dusk."  (Allison,  MS.}. 

Nesting  Site. — The  nest  is  placed  in  a  small  bush  or  sapling  at 
from  one  to  five,  but  usually  about  three  feet  from  the  ground.  At  the 
southern  limit  of  the  bird's  nesting  range  canes  are  generally  chosen, 
at  the  northern  limit  laurel  is  frequently  selected.  Where  neither  of 
these  growths  is  present  various  species  of  bushes  or  saplings  are 
used. 

,"  ,  Nest. — Nests  from  near  New  York  are  generally  compactly  built 
with  a  well-woven  rim  and  composed  largely  of  soft  inner  bark  and 
sometimes  plant-down  with  often  an  outer  wrapping  of  dead  leaves 
and  leaf  skeletons,  and  are  lined  with  fine  grasses. 

Nests  from  South  Carolina  are  described  as  made  of  cane  leaves, 
lined  with  dry  weeds  and  rootlets  or  black  'moss,'  possibly  the  dead, 
inner  fiber  of  Tillandsia. 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4,  very  rarely  5.  Ground  color  white  to 
creamy  white,  well  wreathed  about  the  large  end  with  spots  and  small 
blotches  of  deep,  rich  chestnut  red,  purplish  red  and  lilac-gray,  with 
under  shell  markings  of  pale  lavender;  sometimes  the  markings 
extend  very  sparingly  over  the  entire  egg,  but  this  is  rare,  and  only 
the  lighter  shades  occur.  Size;  average,  73X.54,  extremes,  .8ox.55, 
.6;x.52,  76x.s8,  .68x48.  (Figs.  113-115-) 

Nesting  Dates. — Charleston,  S.  C,  April  30- June  26,  three  eggs, 
small  embryos  (Wayne)  ;  Bertie  Co.,  N.  C.,,  May  9;  Waynesburg,  Pa., 
June  6,  only  two  records  (Jacobs)  .;  New  York  City,  May  26-June  15 
(F.  M.  C.)  ;  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  27-June  24  (Bishop)  ;  Kalama- 
zoo  Co.,  Mich.,  June  10,  Gibbs — Macatawa,  Ottawa  Co.,  August  22, 
feeding  two  young  Cowbirds,  Smith  (Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  WM.  BREWSTER,  Observations  on  the  Birds  of  Ritchie  County,  West 
Virginia,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  XI,  1875,  138.  (2)  J.  N.  CLARK,  Hooded 
Warblers,  Nesting  in  Southern  Connecticut,  Orn.  and  O61.,  VI,  1881,  9,  102. 


274 


WILSON'S  WARBLER 


(3)  J.  P.  N [ORRIS],  A  Series  of  Eggs  of  Myiodioctes  mitratus,  Orn.  and  O61., 
XII,  200.  (4)  A.  B.  BLACKMORE,  The  Hooded  Warbler  (in  La.),  Oologist,  XII, 
1895-  (5)  E.  P.  BICKNELL,  A  Study  of  the  Singing  of  Our  Birds,  Auk,  I,  1884, 
216. 

WILSON'S  WARBLER 

WILSONIA  PUSILLA  PUSILLA  (WIU.)     Pl.teXXII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  c?  and  generally  also  the  ?,  may  be  known 
by  its  black  cap,  entirely  yellow  underparts,  and  absence  of  white  in  the  wings 
and  tail.  Females  in  which  the  cap  is  lacking  (young?)  resemble  the  young 
Hooded  Warbler  but  are  smaller  and  have  no  white  in  the  tail.  Length  (skin), 
4.25;  wing,  2.10;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .32. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Crown  shining  black,  forehead,  cheeks,  including  line 
over  eye,  bright  yellow ;  rest  of  upperparts  bright  olive-green ;  wings  and  tail 
narrowly  edged  with  same  color  and  without  white  marks;  underparts  entirely 
bright  yellow;  upper  mandible  brownish  black,  lower,  flesh  color. 

Adult  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  black  cap  narrowly  tipped 
with  olive. 

Young  c?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  d1  in  Fall  but  cap  more  widely  tipped  with 
olive,  yellow  of  forehead  and  above  eye  duller. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Sometimes  not  distinguishable  from  adult  d*  in   Spring 

but  usually  with  black  cap  less  sharply  defined  and  conspicuously  tipped  with 

olive-green ;  yellow  duller.     In  this  plumage  closely  resembles  young  c?  in  Fall. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  °.  in  Spring  but  crown  more  widely  tipped 

with  olive-green. 

Young  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Fall,  but  black  cap  absent,  or  if 
present,  so  broadly  tipped  with  olive-green  as  to  be  concealed. 

Nestling. — Above  hair-brown,  breast  lighter,  belly  yellowish  white,  the  sides 
brownish,  lesser  and  median  wing-coverts  tipped  with  brown-tinged  white 
forming  two  well-marked  wing-bars. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America. 
Summer  Range. — Principally  in  Canada,  a  few  nesting  in  northern 
Maine  (casually  south  to  Pittsfield,  Me.,  and  accidentally  at  Lancaster, 
N.  H.),  central  Ontario  (Ottawa,  Madoc,  Lansdowne),  northern  Min- 
nesota, Manitoba  and  Hudson  Bay  region.  Casual  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain region  during  migrations. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  to  Panama;  accidental  once  in  the  West 
Indies. 

Fall  Migration.— Some  dates  of  the  last  one  seen  are  at  New- 
port, Ore.,  August  30,  1900;  Berkeley,  Cal.,  September  17,  1888; 
Columbia  Falls,  Mont.,  September  14,  1894;  Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  Septem- 
ber n,  1888;  Cooney, -New  Mex.,  October  9,  1889;  Aweme,  Man., 
average  six  years  September  8;  Lanesboro,  Minn.,  average  of  four 
years  September  20,  latest  September  25,  1887;  Grinnell,  la.,  average 
four  years  September  21,  latest  September  25,  1888;  Ottawa,  Ont., 


WILSON'S  WARBLER 


2/5 


average  four  years  September  19,  latest  September  29,  1890;  Pictou, 
N.  S.,  August  24,  1894;  St.  John,  N.  B.,  September  17,  1896;  Renovo, 
Pa.,  average  six  years,  September  21,  latest  September  30,  1895; 
Germantown,  Pa.,  October  15,  1889. 

Spring   Migration. — The   locality   will   be   sufficient   to    indicate 
which  form  of  this  species  the  following  notes  refer  to : 


PlyACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Rising  Fawn   Ga 

May      i    1885 

Raleigh,   N    C 

Mav    13 

May    ii    1893 

French  Creek,  W   Va 

2 

r*r-*      ° 

May     10 

Mav      o   180^ 

Washington,  DC.... 

6 

May      9 

Mav      7   loos 

Englewood,  N.  J  

3 

May     13 

May    ii    1902 

Beaver,   Pa  

6 

May     15 

May      8   1889 

East  Hartford,   Conn  

7 

May    13 

May     10    1894 

Eastern  Massachusetts  

10 

May    17 

May    10    1897 

Southern  New  Hampshire   

6 

May    17 

May     13    1898 

Southern  New   Brunswick   

7 

May    26 

May    19   1887 

Godbout    Que 

Tune      i    1884 

Hamilton  River   Que 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
St.   Louis,   Mo  

e 

May      5 

April  29,  1885 

Chicago,  111  

Q 

May    14 

May    10,  1902 

Waterloo    Ind 

6 

Mav    i^ 

May    10   1903 

Oberlin    O 

J.»A<VT     A  3 
May     14 

May      5    190° 

Southern   Michigan 

g 

May    17 

May     ii    1888 

Ottawa     Ont 

10 

May    20 

Mav    14   180"? 

Mouth  Rio  Grande,  Tex  
Grinnell,    la              .         

2 

e 

April  28 
May    ii 

April  26,  1878 
May      4    1890 

Lanesboro,  Minn             

Q 

May      8 

May      2    1887 

Elk  River,  Minn  

4 

May    14 

May     ii    1886 

Aweme,   Man  

6 

May    15 

May     1  1    1904 

Ft.  Chippewyan,  Alberta  

2 

May    26 

May    23    1901 

Western  America  — 
Southern   Arizona    

April  12,  1902 

Northern   Colorado       

6 

May     12 

May     10,  1905 

Great  Falls,  Mont  

2 

Mav    2^ 

May    23,  1892 

Kowak,    Alaska    
Central   California   

March  30 

June     3,  1899 
March  23,  1889 

Southwestern  British  Columbia   .  . 

3 

May      6 

May      3,  1889 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — As  a  migrant  I  find  Wilson's  Warbler 
usually  in  bushes  bordering  woodland  waters.  At  the  northern  base 
of  Monadnock,  Gerald  Thayer  (M.S.)  writes:  "This  jaunty  little  War- 
bler-flycatcher is  often  common  in  the  spring  migration,  from  the 
9th  to  the  end  of  May.  It  haunts  damp  alder-copses,  orchards,  and 
small  deciduous  second  growth  along  roadsides,  and  seems  to  avoid 
the  upper  parts  of  the  mountain  and  of  the  surrounding  hills. 


276  WILSON'S  WARBLER 

"In  actions,  call-notes  and  song,  this  is  a  decidedly  individual 
little  bird.  Like  the  Canada,  it  is  both  a  gleaner  and  a  darting  fly- 
catcher, but  it  has  a  more  perky  restlessness  of  manner  than  the  Can- 
ada. It  twitches  its  tail  up  and  down,  not  methodically  and  almost 
uninterruptedly,  like  the  Palm  Warbler,  but  with  spasmodic  irregu- 
larity. Now  the  tail  will  go  sharply  flip-flip-flipping  for  many  seconds 
together,  and  again  it  will  be  perfectly  still  for  a  longer  time.  Add  to 
this  Warbler's  individual  manners  and  sufficiently  peculiar  notes,  his 
very  rich  yellow  and  yellow-green  coloration,  relieved  by  a  round, 
glossy,  blue-black  crown-spot  (of  erectile  feathers)  as  the  sole  mark- 
ing, and  you  have  a  bird  easily  identified.  The  females  usually  and 
the  young  always  lack  the  distinguishing  crown-cap;  but  their  man- 
ners betray  them." 

In  Maine,  Morrell2  says,  "Wilson's  Warbler  may  safely  be  classed 
as  one  of  the  rarest  Warblers  which  breed  regularly  in  the  State.  It 
is  nowhere  common,  even  as  a  migrant,  arriving  during  the  second 
week  in  May  with  the  main  army  of  migrating  Warblers.  I  always  see 
it  singly  or  in  pairs,  never  in  flocks,  at  this  time.  They  are  birds  of 
the  bush,  never  going  into  large  woods  as  do  the  Black-throated  Green 
and  Blackburnian  Warblers,  but  spend  the  summer  in  knolly,  bush- 
grown  pastures  bordering  young  growths." 

Song. — "The  singing  as  a  rule  is  done  from  a  perch,  between 
sallies  into  the  air,  but  sometimes  it  is  accomplished  during  one  of  the 
little  darting  flights.  It  is  highly  changeable,  in  everything  but  tone- 
quality.  Though  only  just  loud  enough,  at  its  best,  to  give  the  bird 
rank  among  full-voiced  Warblers,  it  has  much  of  the  ringing  clarity 
of  the  Canada's  and  Hooded's  songs.  The  commonest  form  of  it,  a 
rapid,  bubbled  warble,  of  two  nearly  equal  parts,  the  second  lower- 
toned  and  sometimes  diminuendo,  has  always  reminded  me  of  a 
\orthern  Water-Thrush  song.  But  it  falls  short  of  that  utterance  in 
vivid  'suddenness.'  It  is  also  somewhat  like  the  Nashville's  songs,  par- 
ticularly the  less  common,  softer  one.  It  is  fully  as  clear-toned,  but 
far  less  loud,  and  more  hurriedly  delivered.  Sometimes  the  Wilson's 
sings  only  half  his  song, — using  either  of  the  two  parts, — and  the 
second  part  thus  used  is  occasionally  prolonged  into  a  full-length 
song.  Another  regular  variation  is  an  inversion  of  the  common  two- 
fold utterance.  Again,  the  complete  song  is  sometimes  uttered  in  a 
very  soft  undertone— fairly  whispered.  But  all  these  variations— all 
I  have  yet  heard — seem  to  be  based  on  one  main  song.  Of  call-notes, 
the  bird  has  at  least  two  perfectly  distinct  kinds,  both  fairly  constant. 
One  is  a  very  fine,  quick  lisp,  and  the  other  an  unusually  low-toned  and 


WILSON'S  WARBLER 


277 


slightly  harsh  chut  much  like  the  Yellow-throat's  commonest  call,  but 
easily  distinguishable."  (Thayer,  MS.}. 

"Rarely  sings  in  migration.  May  25,  1897  one  sang  repeatedly 
a  full  chord-like  chee-chee-chee  followed  by  a  Goldfinch-like  trill, 
the  latter  varied  somewhat,  but  the  opening  notes  are  all  usually 
the  same.  Another  time  I  heard  the  jumbled  warble  without  the  clear 
chee-chee-chee"  (Farwell,  MS.) 

Nesting  Site. — A  nest  found  by  Spaulding1  at  Lancaster,  N.  H., 
"was  situated  among  some  short  bushes  on  a  small  grassy  knoll  in 
wet,  swampy  land.  The  nest  was  sunken  in  the  ground  and  well  con- 
cealed by  fine  swamp  grass." 

At  Pittsfield,  Maine,  Morrell2  has  found  two  nests;  one  was 
placed  "at  the  base  of  a  small  shrub,"  the  other  was  "in  the  side  of  a 
depression  on  the  ground,  well  concealed  by  overhanging  grass  and 
shrubs."  Swain3  records  a  nest,  found  near  Bangor,  Maine,  "under 
a  thick  mass  of  grasses  and  weeds  at  the  foot  of  an  alder  bush." 

Nest. — Spaulding's1  nest  "was  almost  wholly  of  fine  dry  grass, 
lined  with  a  very  few  hairs,  deeply  cupped  and  quite  substantial  for  a 
Warbler."  Morrell  describes  the  first  nest  found  by  him  as  "mainly 
constructed  of  short  pieces  of  grass,  fairly  well  woven  together,  with 
a  very  few  hairs  mingled  with  the  grass  lining,  and  some  moss  and 
leaves  exteriorly."  Morrell's  second  nest  resembled  the  first  "with 
the  exception  of  the  hair,  in  the  place  of  which  were  a  few  black,  hair- 
like  roots."  The  nest  found  by  Swain3  "was  made  up  outside  of  fine 
dead  grasses  (neatly  woven,  yet  a  frail  structure),  lined  with  fine 
grasses  and  a  few  horse-hairs." 

Eggs. — Usually  4.  A  set  collected  by  Mr.  F.  B.  Spaulding1  is 
described  by  him  as  follows:  "The  ground  color  of  the  eggs  is  pure 
white ;  number  one  has  a  light  wreath  of  small  dark  specks  about  the 
crown,  number  two  has  the  crown  completely  covered  by  larger  spots, 
number  three  is  the  same  but  has  in  addition  some  large  light-brown 
splashes  over  half  of  the  egg,  and  number  four  has  large  light-brown 
splashes  and  spots  that  cover  the  small  end." 

Nesting  Dates.— Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  6  (Spaulding)  ;  Bangor, 
Me.,  June  i-June  19  (Knight). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  F.  B.  SPAULDING,  Nesting  of  Wilson's  Black-capped  Warbler,  (in  N. 
H.),  Nidologist,  II,  1894,  13;  cf.  also  Journ.  Me.  Orn.  Soc.,  VI,  1904,  70.  (2) 
C.  H.  MORRELL,  Osprey,  III,  1899,  5.  (3)  J.  M.  SWAIN,  Contributions  to  the 
Life  History  of  Wilson's  Warbler,  Journ.  Me.  Orn.  Soc.,  VI,  1904,  59. 


278  PILEOLATED   WARBLER 

PlLEOLATED    WARBLER 
WILSONIA  PUSILLA  PILEOLVTA  (Pallas) 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  Wilsonia  p.  pusilla  but  forehead 
much  more  intense,  orange  rather  than  yellow;  olive-green  of  back  and  yellow 
of  underparts  deeper,  richer;  averages  slightly  larger. 

As  with  Helminthophila  celata  orestera,  the  Rocky  Mountain  bird,  while 
intermediate  in  color  between  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coast  specimens,  is  slightly 
larger  than  either.  Wing,  2.25;  tail,  2.00;  bill,  .35. 

General  Distribution. — Rocky  Mountain  region. 

Summer  Range. — Breeding  throughout  the  Rocky  Mountain  dis- 
trict, from  western  Texas  (Chisos  Mountains),  New  Mexico  (?)  and 
Arizona  (?)  in  higher  mountains,  northward  to  Alaska,  including  coast 
district  (Kadiak,  Yakutat,  Sitka,  etc.)  as  well  as  throughout  the  in- 
terior, westward  to  eastern  Oregon  (Fort  Kalmath;  Tillamook)  and 
Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  British  Columbia ;  during  migration  over  the 
whole  of  western  North  America  (less  commonly  along  the  Pacific 
coast  of  United  States)  and  eastward  across  the  Great  Plains  to  Min- 
nesota (Fort  Snelling,  May),  western  Missouri  (Independence),  etc. 

Winter  Range. — Southward  over  whole  of  Mexico  and  Central 
America  to  Chiriqui  (Boquete).  (Ridgw.} 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — In  Colorado,  Cooke8  writes,  this  bird 
reaches  its  summer  home  just  above  timber-line  by  the  end  of  June 
and  is  then  the  most  numerous  insect-eating  bird  at  that  altitude.  The 
center  of  abundance  during  the  breeding  season  is  about  11,000  feet, 
but  it  has  been  known  to  breed  from  6,000  to  12,000  feet. 

In  Alaska,  Nelson2  states  that  this  Warbler  is  "one  of  the  com- 
monest of  the  bush-frequenting  species  in  the  north  and  extends  its 
breeding  range  to  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Ocean,  where  it  is  found 
breeding  about  Kotzebue  Sound  as  well  as  along  the  eastern  coast  of 
Norton  Sound  wherever  shelter  is  afforded." 

Song. — "Song,  Chee-chee-chce-chee  (or  this  syllable  repeated 
seven  times),  thus  different  from  their  song  as  I  recall  it  in  the  East. 
Certain  low  querulous  notes  are  indescribable."  (Minot1}. 

Nesting  Site. — A  nest  found  June  22,  near  Seven  Lakes,  Colo- 
rado, by  Minot1  "was  sunken  in  the  ground  on  the  eastern  slope  or 
border  of  the  swamp,  at  the  end  of  a  partly  natural  archway  of  long, 
dry  grass,  opening  to  the  southward,  beneath  the  low,  spreading 
branch  of  a  willow." 

Nest. — The  nest  above  mentioned  is  described  as  "composed  of 
loose  shreds,  with  a  neat  lining  of  fine  stalks  and  a  few  hairs,  and 
with  a  hollow  two  inches  wide  and  scarcely  half  as  deep." 


GOLDEN    PILEOLATED    WARBLER 


279 


Eggs. — 4  to  6,  usually  4  or  5.  Ground  color  white,  sometimes 
tinged  with  creamy,  specked  and  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and 
lavender  gray,  very  few  under  shell  markings;  some  specimens  show 
the  markings  well  distributed,  others  have  them  in  a  wreath  about 
large  end  with  scattering  spots  over  rest  of  egg.  Size:  average  .63X 
.49.  Figs.  (116-118.) 

Nesting  Dates. — Boulder  Co.,  Colo.,  altitude  9,500  feet,  June  16 
(C.  W.  C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  H.  D.  MINOT,  Notes  on  Colorado  Birds,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  V,  1880, 
228.  (2)  E.  W.  NELSON,  Report  upon  Natural  History  Coll.  made  in  Alaska, 
204.  (3)  W.  W.  COOKE,  The  Birds  of  Colorado,  117.  (The  notes  of  both 
Nelson  and  Cooke  are  given  under  the  head  of  "Sylvania  pusilla.") 

GOLDEN  PILEOLATED  WARBLER 

WILSONIA  PUSILLA  CHRYSEOLA    Ridgw. 

Subspecific  Characters. — Similar  to  W.  p.  pileolata  but  smaller  and  of  a 
still  brighter,  deeper  yellow.  Wing,  2.15;  tail,  1.96;  bill,  .32. 

General  Distribution. — Pacific  coast  district  of  United  States  and 
British  Columbia. 

Summer  Range. — Breeding  from  southern  California  (San  Ber- 
nardino, Los  Angeles,  and  Ventura  Counties)  northward  to  British 
Columbia  (New  Westminster,  Mount  Lehman)  ;  during  migration 
southward  and  eastward  to  eastern  Oregon  (Fort  Klamath,  May, 
August),  Arizona  (Final  County,  September,  October;  Lowell,  April; 
Fort  Verde,  May;  San  Francisco  Mountains,  August  31;  Cienega; 
Tucson),  Chihuahua  (San  Diego,  April  15),  Sonora  (San  Jose 
Mountains,  October),  and  Lower  California  (to  Cape  St.  Lucas). 
(Ridgw.) 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  and  Central  America. 

The  Bird  and  Its  Haunts.— 'In  California,"  Walter  Fisher  (MS) 
writes,  "the  Golden  Pileolated  Warbler  frequents  copses  along  water 
courses  of  the  valleys,  or  willow  thickets  near  mountain  streams  and 
meadows,  and  in  the  moist  northern  coast  region  is  found  almost 
anywhere  in  the  luxuriant  undergrowth.  I  have  also  encountered 
a  few  in  manzanita  chaparral,  where  their  yellow  colors  harmonized 
perfectly  with  the  vivid  yellow-green  of  the  sun-lit  foliage.  In  the 
Sierras  I  have  found  them  tame  but  preoccupied,  as  Mrs.  Bailey 
aptly  writes.  One  usually  catches  only  a  fleeting  glimpse,  when 
the  black  cap  is  a  most  excellent  aid  in  identification." 

Nesting  Site. — In  California,  Barlow2  records  this  bird  as  build- 
ing about  three  and  one-half  feet  from  the  ground,  placed  upon  a 


280  CANADA   WARBLER 

mass  of  drift  material  in  the  crotch  of  a  dead  limb,  and  in  bunches  of 
nettles,  weeds  or  ferns ;  while  Silliman8  writes  that  the  nests  are  situat- 
ed in  "damp,  shaded  places,  often  in  a  wild  blackberry  vine  and  well 
hidden.  They  are  always  placed  near  the  ground,  never  over  five  feet 
above.  In  one  instance  the  bottom  of  the  nest  touched  the  ground." 
Emerson1,  however,  records  a  nest  found  in  blackberry  vines  eight 
feet  from  the  ground. 

Xest. — Barlow2  describes  the  nest  as  "made  of  grasses,  fine  leaves 
and  material  gathered  from  debris  in  the  creek,  while  the  lining 
is  of  fine  white  rootlets  or  grass  which  resembles  horse-hair."  Silli- 
man8 states  that  "a  typical  nest  of  this  species  has  a  loose  exterior  of 
dry  leaves,  bark  fibers,  lichens,  weed-stems,  roots  and  a  few  pieces  of 
straw." 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4,  very  rarely  5.  Ground  color  and  mark- 
ings show  the  same  range  of  variation  as  in  the  Pileolated  Warbler, 
only  in  some  extreme  examples  the  markings  in  the  wreath  are  heavier 
and  more  profuse.  Size;  average  about  the  same,  .64x49;  extremes 
7ix.5o,  .6ix.5i,  .62x46. 

Nesting  Dates. — Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  April  24-May  31  (Grin- 
nell);  San  Geronimo,  Calif.,  May  i  (Mailliard);  Tacoma,  Wash., 
June  17,  only  nest  found  (Bowles). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  O.  EMERSON,  Black-capped  Yellow  Warbler  [in  Calif.],  Orn.  and 
O61.,  VI,  1881,  62.  (2)  C.  BARLOW,  The  [Golden]  Pileolated  Warbler,  Nidolo- 
gist,  I,  1893,  44-  (3)  SILLIMAN,  The  [Golden]  Pileolated  Warbler,  Nidologist, 
II,  1894,  28. 

CANADA  WARBLER 

WILSONIA  CANADENSIS  (Linn.)     Pl.teXXII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — The  Canadian  Warbler  may  always  be  known 
by  its  gray  upperparts,  absence  of  white  on  wings  or  tail,  and  necklace  of  spots 
across  the  breast.  In  the  adult  <$  these  are  black  and  conspicuous,  in  the  9 
and  young  of  both  sexes  they  are  dusky  and  less  sharply  defined,  but  I  have  not 
seen  a  specimen  in  which  they  were  wholly  wanting.  Length  (skin),  5.00;  wing, 
2.50;  tail,  2.20;  bill,  .40. 

Adult  c?,  Spring. — Upperparts  gray,  crown  spotted  with  black,  the  forehead 
usually  wholly  black ;  line  from  bill  to  eye  and  eye-ring  yellow ;  wings  and  tail 
externally  the  color  of  the  back  and  without  white  markings;  lores  and  malar 
stripe  black,  running  into  a  band  of  black  spots  across  the  breast ;  rest  of  under- 
parts  yellow,  crissum  white. 

Adult  <f,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  £  in  Spring  but  a  faint  wash  of  greenish 
on  back;  black  breast-spots  narrowly  tipped  with  yellow. 


PLATE  XXII 


1.  WILSON'S  WARBLER,  MALE. 

2.  WILSON'S  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


3.  CANADA  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

4.  CANADA   WARBLER,  ADULT  FEMALE. 


5.  CANADA  WARBLER,  YOUNG  FEMALE. 
(ONE-HALF  NATURAL  SIZE.) 


CANADA   WARBLER 


281 


Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall  but  crown  greenish  without 
black,  lores  dusky,  no  black  malar  stripe,  yellow  duller,  breast  spots  dusky  and 
not  sharply  defined.  Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  adult  $  in  Fall. 

Adult  $,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  duller  throughout,  crown 
gray  tinged  with  yellowish,  especially  on  forehead,  and  without  black,  lores 
dusky,  no  black  malar  stripe;  breast  spots  dusky  and  not  sharply  defined. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  $  in  Spring  but  slightly  greener  above. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  adult  $  in  Fall  but 
averaging  browner  above  especially  on  crown,  and  with  the  breast  spots  fainter. 

Nestling. — Resembles  nestling  of  Wilsonia  pusilla. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New- 
foundland and  Athabasca;  west  to  the  Plains. 

Summer  Range. — Breeding  principally  in  Canada,  a  few  nest  in 
the  northern  United  States  south  to  Massachusetts  ( Berkshire,  Bristol, 
Brookline,  Templeton,  and  Wellesley),  Rhode  Island  (Noyes  Beach, 
Johnston),  northwestern  Connecticut,  central  New  York  (Oneida 
County),  southern  Ontario  (Ottawa,  Kingston,  London,  Toronto, 
Guelph),  central  Michigan,  northeastern  Illinois,  central  Minnesota 
(St.  Louis,  Lake  and  Cass  counties)  ;  in  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  it 
breeds  south  to  North  Carolina  and  occurs  from  3,000  feet  nearly  to 
the  top  of  the  highest  peaks. 

The  great  bulk  of  the  species  passes  along  the  Atlantic  coast  and 
westward  to  and  including  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.  In  the  interior  the 
bird  is  a  rare  migrant  from  eastern  Texas  (San  Antonio,  Gainesville), 
eastern  Kansas  (Neosho  River),  eastern  Nebraska  (Richardson 
County,  May  1875),  through  the  valley  of  the  Red  River  of  the 
North  to  Manitoba.  Accidental  in  central  Texas  (Concho),  southern 
New  Mexico  (Fort  Thorn),  and  eastern  Colorado  (Lake,  May  23, 
1899). 

Winter  Range. — Guatemala  to  Peru. 


Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
e   cord 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast— 
Asheville,  N.  C.  (near)   
French  Creek   W   Va      

2 

r  ;  ,'-  1*1  !**!.! 

Tprrr; 

May      2  ' 

April  29,  1886 

Washington    DC               

4 

Mav       8 

May      4,  1893 

New  Providence,  N.  J  

Mav      tft 

May      5,  1905 

Englewood,  N.  J  

5 

Mav      TC 

Philadelphia,  Pa.  (near)   

I 

May    15 

May    13,  1899 

Beaver   Pa 

Renovo    Pa 

5 

Mov       8 

May      3,  1899 

Southeastern  New  York   
Lockport    N    Y 

9 

May    20 

May      4,  1900 
May     11,  1890 

5 

May    15 

282  CANADA   WARBLER 

Spring  Migration. — (continued) 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  date  of 
•pring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast—  {continued} 
Hast  Hartford    Conn 

Mav    10 

May    12    1888 

Eastern  Massachusetts  

12 

May    14 

May    10    1896 

St   Johnsbury   Vt 

",  3     *+ 
May    21 

Southern  New  Hampshire     

3 

May    1  8 

Southern  Maine   

6 

May    jo 

Mav     is    1807 

Southern  New  Brunswick 

Mav    2? 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
San  Antonio,  Texas  

•» 

May      i 

April  26    1887 

St   Louis   Mo 

I 

Mav      o 

April  28    1888 

Chicago,  111        ... 

II 

Mav    is 

May    ii    1807 

Waterloo    Ind 

;,*•'     •* 
Mav      2 

Oberlin    O 

8 

May      8 

Petersburg,   Mich  

8 

May    13 

Mav    10   i8od 

Northern  Michigan 

May    28 

Southern   Ontario       

12 

May    12 

Parry  Sound  District    Ont 

May    17    1887 

Ottawa    Ont 

ie 

May    21 

Lanesboro,  Minn  

May    lo 

May    14    1891 

MO,J       *y 

Aweme    Man         

Mav    20   1800 

!  :    : 

Fall  Migration. — Some  dates  of  the  last  birds  seen  are  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Athabasca,  August  20,  1901 ;  Aweme,  Man.,  August  30,  1901 ; 
Ottawa,  Ont.,  September  5,  1890;  Chicago,  111.,  September  16,  1894; 
Waterloo,  Ind.,  September  28,  1902;  Petitcodiac,  N.  B.,  August  21, 
1886;  Pittsfield,  Me.,  September  12,  1897;  Amherst,  Mass.,  September 
29,  1891;  Renovo,  Pa.,  average  of  seven  years,  August  14;  German- 
town,  Pa.,  October  i,  1889;  Englewood,  N.  J.,  October  2,  1886;  Bay 
St.  Louis,  Miss.,  October  15,  1899. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — As  a  spring  migrant  I  find  this  Warb- 
ler in  much  the  same  situations  Wilson's  Warbler  frequents ;  but  while 
travelling  southward  in  August  and  September,  when  the  foliage  is  so 
much  denser  than  that  of  May,  it  is  less  restricted  in  its  choice  of 
haunts  and  may  be  found  in  the  tree-tops. 

At  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  Verdi  Burtch  (MS.)  reports  the  Canadian 
Warbler  to  breed  not  uncommonly  in  two  entirely  different  locations. 
While  not  common  they  are  frequently  found  in  the  wettest  part  of 
Potter  Swamp  associated  with  the  Northern  Water-Thrush  and 
Maryland  Yellow-throat.  They  are  also  found  along  the  gully  banks 
usually  in  the  lower  branches  or  on  the  ground. 


CANADA   WARBLER  283 

Gerald  Thayer  writes :  "I  have  already,  in  my  notes  on  the  Black- 
burnian,  described  this  Warbler's  breeding  haunts  about  Monadnock. 
It  is  a  bird  of  rich  deciduous  undergrowth  in  the  deep,  damp  forest, — 
a  ranger  between  the  bush-tops  and  low  tree-branches  and  the  ground. 
It  avoids  purely  coniferous  woods,  and  so  is  almost  wholly  wanting 
from  the  closely-spruce-clad  northern  slopes  of  Mt.  Monadnock, 
though  abundant  in  the  deep  mixed  timber  all  about  its  northern  base. 
On  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  mountain,  where  the  forest  is  more  largely 
deciduous,  the  Canada  is  fairly  common  almost  up  to  the  rocky  back- 
bone ridge,  at  heights  of  from  2,300  to  2,700  or  so  feet. 

"The  Canadian  is  a  sprightly,  wide-awake,  fly-snapping  Warbler, 
vivid  in  movement  and  in  song;  clearly  marked  and  brightly  colored. 
In  actions  it  is  like  the  Wilson's,  a  sort  of  mongrel  between  a  Den- 
droica,  an  American  Redstart,  and  a  true  Flycatcher.  It  darts  after 
flying  insects  like  one  of  the  Tyrannidae,  and  its  bill  may  sometimes 
be  heard  to  'click'  when  it  seizes  something;  it  has  much  of  the  Red- 
start's insistent  nervousness  of  motion,  but  is  a  less  airy  'flitter' ;  and, 
finally,  it  glides  and  gleans  among  leaves  and  twigs  like  a  true  gleaning 
Warbler."  (Thayer,  MS.} 

Song. — "Sings  a  great  deal  in  migration — the  song  is  liquid,  un- 
certain, varied,  bright,  sweet — sounds  like  the  syllables  t'le  we,  t'le  we, 
t'le  we,  t'le  we,  t'l  it  wit;  often  begins  with  a  little  whirr  or  snap. 
(Farwell,  MS.} 

"Suggests  to  me  the  unfinished  song  of  a  Goldfinch  more  than 
that  of  a  Warbler.  It  is  very  broken  and  energetic  and  also  possesses 
a  larger  quality."  (Fuertes,  MS.}. 

"The  strong  and  snappily-changeful  modulation  of  this  Warbler's 
clear,  rippling  song  can  scarcely  be  suggested  by  English  syllables, 
and  I  shall  avoid  the  attempt.  It  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  as  well 
as  one  of  the  commonest  summer  bird-songs  of  the  deep  woods  about 
Monadnock.  It  varies  a  good  deal,  but  I  have  yet  to  discover  that  the 
bird  has  more  than  one  constant,  main  song  as  a  basis  for  the  varia- 
tions. Nevertheless,  it  ranks  very  high  in  the  full-voiced  group,  as 
does  its  beautiful  black-hooded  relative  of  the  South.  In  late  summer 
and  autumn  the  young  male  Canadas  of  the  year  often  try  to  sing,  as 
is  the  case  with  all  or  most  Wood  Warblers ;  and, — as  is  also  commonly 
the  case, — their  performances  are  obscure  and  queer,  and  barely  recog- 
nizable. 

"The  Canada's  commonest  summer  call-note  is  fairly  charcteristic, 
having  a  certain  peculiar  little  'tang'  and  harshness.  It  sounds  a  little 
like  the  chack  of  the  Yellow-throat,  but  is  less  pronouncedly  different 


CANADA   WARBLER 


from  the  common  run  of  Warbler  'chips.'    The  bird  has  also  several 
slighter  and  less  distinctive  calls."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Miss  Paddock  sends  notations  of  six  songs  and  writes:  "The 
rhythm  is  not  unlike  the  Yellow-throat's,  but  its  quality  is  different, 
and  it  is  more  energetic.  The  notes  are  always  in  triplets  or  groups 
of  four." 


rup-it-che  rup-i-chip-it 


fl 


Nesting  Site. — The  Canada  Warbler  nests  on  the  ground  con- 
cealing its  nest  in  moss  or  beneath  roots. 

Burtch  (MS.)  writes  that  "in  Potter  Swamp  near  Branchport, 
N.  Y.,  the  nest  is  usually  placed  under  the  edge  of  a  stump  or  log,  or 
in  the  side  of  a  mound  of  moss  covered  with  logs  and  brush.  One 
nest  was  placed  on  top  of  a  moss-covered  log,  the  lowest  in  a  criss- 
cross pile,  another  log  being  over  it  and  forming  a  roof.  In  the  gullies 
the  nest  is  placed  from  ten  to  thirty  feet  above  the  bottom  of  the  gully, 
in  a  hole  in  the  moss-covered  bank." 

Nest. — Burtch  describes  the  nest  as  usually  bulky  and  rather  flat- 
tened, made  of  dead  leaves  and  grass,  lined  with  fine  grass. 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  and  markings  about  like 
the  eggs  of  the  Pileolated  Warbler,  except  in  the  present  species  the 
markings  are  not  so  profuse  and  less  inclined  to  wreathe  around  the 
large  end,  being  more  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire  egg.  Size ; 
average,  .67x^2 ;  extremes,  73X.53,  .64X.54,  .65x.5i.  (Figs.  119-121.) 


RED-FACED  WARBLER  285 

Nesting  Dates.— Lancaster,  N.  H.,  June  Q-June  13  (Spaulding)  ; 
Bangor,  Me.,  May  30- June  4,  young  a  few  days  old  (Knight)  ;  Listo- 
wel,  Ont,  May  22-June  18  (Kells) ;  Bay  City,  Mich.,  June  2,  Eddy 
(Barrows). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  the  Canadian  Flycatching  Warbler,  (in 
Ontario),  Orn.  and  O6L,  XII,  1887,  12;  (2)  Ibid.,  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XV, 
1902,  230. 

Genus  CARDELLINA  DuBus 

Although  in  Cardellina  the  bill  is  short  and  titmouse-like  in 
character,  the  rictal  bristles  are  still  fairly  well-developed,  though  less 
evident  than  in  Wilsonia. 

The  wing  is  rather  long,  and  pointed  by  the  second,  third,  and 
fourth  primaries,  the  first  (outer)  primary  about  equalling  the  fourth; 
the  tail  is  long,  the  feathers  of  about  the  same  length ;  the  feet  are  dark 
and  slender. 

Cardellina  rubrifrons,  the  only  species  in  this  genus,  ranges  from 
southern  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  south  to  Guatemala.  The  sexes 
are  virtually  alike  in  color,  an  exception  to  the  prevailing  rule  among 
brightly  colored  birds. 

RED-FACED  WARBLER 

CARDELLINA  RUBRIFRONS  (Giraud)    Platt  XXIV 

Distinguishing  Characters. — This  species  is  so  unlike  any  other  of  our 
Warblers  as  to  render  comparison  unnecessary.  Length  (skin),  4.80;  wing, 
2.70;  tail,  2.40;  bill,  .30. 

Adult  d,  Spring. — Forehead,  cheeks,  most  of  eye-ring,  throat,  upper  breast 
and  band  back  of  auriculars  bright  red,  crown  and  auriculars  black,  nuchal 
patch  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  pink,  back,  wings  and  tail  gray;  rump 
white  sometimes  tinged  with  pink,  median  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white ;  lower 
breast  and  belly  tinged  with  pink. 

Adult  d,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  but  nape  and  rump  often 
rose-tinged,  back  sometimes  suffused  with  red. 

Young  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Fall,  but  plumage  sometimes  with  a 
brownish  wash  in  places. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  adult  c?  in  Spring  and  generally  indistinguish- 
able from  it  but  red  sometimes  duller. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  adult  c?  in  Fall. 

Young  $,  Fall— Like  adult  ?  in  Fall. 

Nestling. — Above  grayish  brown;  crown  browner,  nape  buffy;  rump  white; 
throat  and  breast  grayish  brown,  belly  white ;  wing-coverts  fuscous  edged  with 
brown  and  narrowly  but  distinctly  tipped  with  buff. 

General  Distribution. — Mexican  Tableland  north  to  Arizona  and 
New  Mexico. 


286  RED-FACED  WARBLER 

Summer  Range. — Mexican  Tableland  north  to  southern  Arizona 
(Santa  Catalina  Mountains)  and  southern  New  Mexico. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  south  to  Guatemala. 

Spring  Migration. — Huachuca  Mountains,  Arizona,  April  20. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — This  singularly  colored  Warbler  was 
added  to  our  fauna  July  12,  1874,  by  H.  W.  Henshaw1  who  found  it 
near  Camp  Apache  and  on  Mount  Graham  in  southern  Arizona.  In 
the  latter  locality,  later  in  the  month,  it  proved  to  be  common,  "flocks 
of  ten  or  fifteen  being  not  unusual  among  the  pines  and  spruces;  it 
frequented  these  trees  almost  exclusively,  only  rarely  being  seen  on  the 
bushes  that  fringed  the  streams.  Its  habits  are  a  rather  strange  com- 
pound, now  resembling  those  of  Warblers,  again  recalling  the  Red- 
start's, but  more  often,  perhaps,  bringing  to  mind  the  less  graceful  mo- 
tions of  the  familiar  Titmice.  Their  favorite  hunting  places  appeared 
to  be  the  extremities  of  the  limbs  of  the  spruces,  over  the  branches  of 
which  they  passed  with  quick  motion,  and  a  peculiar  and  constant  side- 
wise  jerk  of  the  tail." 

Nesting  Site. — Although  the  nest  of  this  species  was  first  dis- 
covered by  Mearns8  on  June  19,  1886,  in  the  Mogollon  Mountains, 
Arizona,  this  naturalist  did  not  publish  his  observations  until  July, 
1890.  In  the  meantime,  Price2  had  found  it  breeding  in  the  Huachuca 
Mountains,  on  May  31,  1888,  and  later  its  nesting  habits  were  studied 
by  Howard4.  The  nests  found  by  these  ornithologists  were  all  placed 
on  the  ground  beneath  a  tuft  of  grass,  a  hillside  being  a  favorite 
location. 

tfest. — Price2  describes  the  nest  as  such  a  "poor  attempt  at  nest 
building  and  made  of  such  loose  materials  that  it  crumbled  to  frag- 
ments on  being  removed.  The  chief  substance  was  fine  fibrous  weed 
stalks  while  the  lining  consisted  of  fine  grass,  rootlets,  plant  fibers,  and 
a  few  hairs." 

Eggs.— 4.  The  set  collected  by  Price  is  described  by  Bendire  as 
follows :  "They  are  ovate  in  shape.  Their  ground  color  is  a  delicate 
creamy  white,  and  they  are  spotted  with  small  blotches  of  cinnamon 
rufous  and  a  few  dots  of  heliotrope  purple  and  pale  lavender.  These 
form  a  wreath  around  the  larger  end.  They  resemble  the  eggs  of 
Helminthophila  lucice  and  H.  Virginia  to  a  certain  extent."  Size; 
"They  measure  .66x.5o,  .67x.5o,  .66x.5o  and  .66x.5O." 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  H.  W.  HENSHAW,  Zool.  Expl.  W.  looth  Merid.,  211.  (2)  W.  W. 
PTICE,  Nesting  of  the  Red-faced  Warbler  in  the  Huachuca  Mountains,  Southern 
A-:  ona,  Auk,  V,  1888,  385.  (3)  E.  A.  MEARNS,  Observations  on  the  Avifauna 


REDSTART  287 

of  Portions  of  Arizona,  Auk,  VII,  1890,  261.     (4)    O.  W.  HOWARD,  Summer 
Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull.  Cooper  Orn.  Club  (=Condor),  I,  1899,  65. 

Genus  SETOPHAGA  Swainson 

Setophaga  differs  but  little  in  structure  from  Wilsonia  and  were 
it  not  for  its  markedly  different  coloration  would  doubtless  be  grouped 
with  it  by  some  authors.  In  5.  ruticilla  the  bill  is  broader  at  the  base, 
the  rictal  bristles  longer,  but  this  is  not  true  of  5".  picta  in  which  the 
rictal  bristles  average  shorter  than  in  Wilsonia.  The  wing  is  niuch  as 
in  Wilsonia  but  the  tail  is  more  rounded,  the  outer  feathers  being 
decidedly  the  shortest. 

The  genus  contains  two  species  of  which  51.  ruticilla  ranges 
throughout  eastern  North  America  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
northwest  to  Alaska,  while  S.  picta  is  found  from  southern  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico  south  to  Honduras. 

Both  are  distinguished  for  the  beauty  of  their  plumage  but  while 
the  adult  male  of  S1.  ruticilla  is  strikingly  different  from  and  brighter 
than  the  female,  the  sexes  in  «S\  picta  are  alike.  Furthermore,  5".  picta 
dons  its  full  plumage  in  the  first  molt,  shortly  after  leaving  the  nest, 
while  6\  ruticilla  does  not  acquire  its  mature  dress  until  after  its  first 
nesting  season,  or  at  the  beginning  of  its  second  year. 

REDSTART 

SETOPHAGA  RUTICILLA  (Linn.)     Plate  XXIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — No  difficulty  will  be  experienced  in  recognizing 
this  strikingly  marked  species,  the  salmon  or  yellow  markings  in  wings  and 
tail  alone  affording  a  sufficient  clue  to  its  identity.  But  one  should  be  careful 
to  avoid  mistaking  the  young  male  for  the  female,  this  being  one  of  the  few 
Warblers,  in  which  the  male  does  not  assume  its  adult  plumage  before  the  first 
nesting  season  after  its  birth.  As  a  rule,  however,  the  young  Spring  male 
has  some  black  feathers  on  the  underparts,  a  character  not  shown  by  the 
female.  Length  (skin),  4.75;  wing,  2.50;  tail,  2.25;  bill,  .35. 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Upperparts  shining  black;  central  pair  of  tail-feathers 
black,  next  pair  basally  salmon-orange  on  the  outer  web,  remaining  four  feathers 
entirely  orange  for  basal  two-thirds,  the  terminal  third  black;  wings  black  with 
a  band  of  orange,  increasing  in  width  from  without  inward,  across  their  base; 
sides  of  head,  throat,  and  breast  black  extending  to  the  sides  of  the  body; 
belly  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  orange ;  sides  of  breast  brilliantly  salmon- 
orange  extending  backwards  to  flanks  in  decreasing  amount.  As  might  be 
expected,  even  in  adult  specimens,  there  is  much  variation  in  the  intensity  and 
extent  of  the  orange  markings. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Not  certainly  distinguishable  from  c?  in  Spring,  but  feathers 
of  throat  and  breast  often  with  white  tips,  those  of  back  tipped  with  brown. 


288  REDSTART 

Young  cJ",  Fall.— Generally  resembles  adult  ?  in  Spring  but  the  back  is 
often  more  olive  or  more  ruddy  brown,  and  the  patches  at  the  side  of  the 
breast  average  deeper  in  tone.  In  some  specimens  the  back  is  suffused  with 
reddish  and  the  breast  patches  are  orange.  I  have  seen  two  specimens  (Bishop 
Coll.)  with  a  few  black  patches  showing  that  in  some  instances  the  bird  begins 
to  acquire  adult  plumage,  the  first  Fall. 

Young  <$,  Spring. — Similar  to  young  $  in  Fall  but  with  a  few  black  feathers 
on  the  breast  and  generally  with  additional  black  feathers  on  the  chin,  lores, 
cheeks,  or  crown.  There  is  no  regularity  as  regards  the  part  of  the  breast 
or  head  in  which  these  black  feathers  appear,  but  I  have  yet  to  see  a  Spring 
c?  in  which  they  were  entirely  wanting.  There  appears  to  be  no  transition 
plumage  between  the  one  just  described  and  the  mature  orange  and  black 
dress  which,  as  molting  specimens  in  Dr.  Dwight's  collection  seem  to  prove, 
is  acquired  after  the  first  breeding  season  or  at  the  beginning  of  the  second 
year  of  the  bird's  life. 

Adult  ?,  Spring. — Crown  and  cheeks  gray,  back  olive-green  with  a  grayish 
tinge,  upper  tail-coverts  blackish ;  basal  two-thirds  of  three  outer  tail-feathers 
yellow  their  tips  blackish,  two-thirds  of  outer  vane  and  sometimes  part  of 
inner  vane  of  next  two  yellow,  their  end  and  inner  pair  of  feathers  blackish; 
wings  brown  edged  with  greenish,  orange  wing-band  of  adult  c?  replaced  by 
yellow  and,  externally,  appearing  chiefly  on  the  basal  half  of  outer  web  of 
secondaries;  underparts  grayish  white,  the  sides  of  the  breast  with  yellow 
patches,  sides  of  body  more  or  less  washed  with  same  color. 

Adult  ?,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Spring  but  back  more  olive,  throat 
and  breast  washed  with  buffy. 

Young  $,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  ?  in  Fall  but  with  less  yellow  in  wing, 
in  the  closed  wing  this  color  being  often  entirely  concealed. 

Young  ?,  Spring. — Similar  to  young  $  in  Fall  but  throat  whiter. 

Nestling. — Above  brownish  gray,  crown  paler,  throat  and  breast  grayer, 
belly  whiter;  wing-coverts  brownish  tipped  with  whitish. 

General  Distribution. — Eastern  North  America;  north  to  New- 
foundland, Labrador  and  Alaska;  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Summer  Range. — From  its  far  northern  home,  almost  to  the  limit 
of  tree  growth,  the  Redstart  breeds  south  commonly  to  Maryland  and 
Iowa,  and  not  rarely  to  North  Carolina,  Arkansas,  and  Kansas.  Excep- 
tional breeding  records,  south  of  this  normal  breeding  range  are  at 
Greensboro,  Ala.,  Hopefield,  and  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  Fort  Union,  New 
Mexico.  The  regular  western  range  includes  Colorado,  Utah,  Idaho, 
eastern  Washington  and  British  Columbia.  The  species  has  occurred 
casually  in  Oregon  (John  Day  River,  July  i,  1889),  California  (Hay- 
wards,  June  20,  1881 ;  Marysville  Buttes,  June  6,  1884),  Arizona  (Tuc- 
son, spring;  Catalina  Mountains,  August  12,  1884),  Lower  California 
(Miraflores,  La  Paz). 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  and  the  West  Indies  to  Ecuador  and 
British  Guiana. 


PLATE  XXIII 


7 

* 


1.  AMERICAN   REDSTART,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  AMERICAN  REDSTART,  FEMALE. 


3.  AMERICAN   REDSTART,  YOUNG  MALE. 

4.  PAINTED  REDSTART,  ADULT. 


REDSTART 


Spring  Migration. — 


PLACE 

No.  of 
'cars' 
ecord 

Average  date  of 
spring  arrival 

Earliest  daie  of 
spring  arrival 

Atlantic  Coast  — 
Southern  Florida  Lighthouses  
Northern  Florida 

4 
5 

I 

4 
14 
6 

4 

8 

ii 

5 
IS 

1 

9 

16 
8 

IS 

10 

7 
6 

4 

8 

4 
7 

8 

10 
10 
10 

7 
6 
6 
14 

6 

17 

24 

9 
6 

12 
13 

18 
IT 
7 
9 
3 
3 
4 

April  12 
April    7 
April  23 
April  10 
April  29 
April  23 
May      2 
April  29 
May    15 
May      4 
May     14 
May    14 
May      6 
May    12 
May      6 
May    ii 
May    13 
May    12 
May    14 
May    1  6 
May    15 
May    20 
May    27 
May    26 

April    7 
April  15 
April  13 
April  16 
April  18 
May      5 
April  29 
April  29 
May      i 
May      i 
May      3 
May      5 
May      4 
May      6 
May      8 
May      7 
May     ii 
May      3 
May      7 
April  30 
May      4 
May      5 
May     12 
May     16 
May    19 
May    ii 
May    15 
May    21 
May    24 
May    24 

April    3,  1889 
March  20,  1890 
April    6,  1894 
April    2,  1888 
April  19,  1902 
April  19,  1891,  1896 
May      i,  1897  [1903 
April  26,  1889 
May      6,  1896 
April  26,  1899 
May      9,  1885 
May      8,  1894 
May      3,  1888 
May      4,  1896,  1902 
April  30,  1897,  1900 
May      9,  1890,  1891 
May      8,  1888,  1902 
May     10,  1901 
May     6,  1900 
May    ii,  1887,  1889 
May      6,  1902 
May    17,  1895 
May    21,  1894 
May     19,  1889 

April    5,  1902 
April  10,  1886 
April    9,  1898 
April  12,  1890 
April  17,  1888 
May      i,  1892 
April  20,  1896 
April  27,  1888 
April  25,  1886 
April  27,  1897 
April  26,  1896 
May      3,  1885,  1889 
May      i,  1887 
May      3,  1905 
May      2,  1896 
May      5,  1886,  1890 
May      9,  1897 
April  27,  1902 
April  30,  1878 
April  23,  1885 
May      i,  1892 
May      2,  1890 
May      2,  1896 
May      3,  1887 
May    13,  1897 
May      2,  1887 
May      8,  1899 
May    1  8,  1889 
May    20,  1895 
May    20,  1860 

Atlanta,   Ga    (near) 

Raleigh,  N    C    .. 

Asheville,  N    C    (near) 

Washington,  DC.... 

Renovo,    Pa     

Beaver,   Pa  

Berwyn,  Pa  

Englewood,  N.  J  

Alfred,  N.  Y  

Ballston   N    Y 

Portland    Conn 

Jewett  City   Conn 

Eastern  Massachusetts 

Randolph,  Vt        ... 

St    Johnsbury,  Vt 

Durham,  N   H    . 

Southwestern  Maine 

Montreal,  Que  

Quebec,  Que    

St.  John,  N.  B  

Pictou,  N.   S  

North  River,  Prince  Edward  Isl.  . 
Mississippi  Valley  — 
New  Orleans,  La.,  and  vicinity   .  . 
Southern  Texas    

Helena    Ark 

Eubank    Ky 

St    Louis    Mo 

Onaga,    Kans 

Brookville,    Ind 

Waterloo,  Ind    (near) 

Wauseon,  Ohio 

Oberlin,   Ohio 

Keokuk,   Iowa   

Iowa  City,  Iowa  

Grinnell,  Iowa  

Lake  Forest,  111  

Chicago,  111  

Rockford,    111  
Milwaukee    Wis 

Detroit,   Mich 

Locke,   Mich 

Petersburg,  Mich  

Livonia,  Mich  

Southwestern   Ontario 

Listowel,  Ont  

Ottawa,   Ont 

Parry  Sound  District,  Ont  
Lanesboro,  Minn.  . 

Aweme,   Man  

Great  Falls,  Mont. 

Columbia  Falls,  Mont.   .  . 

Fort  Simpson,  Mack  

290 


REDSTART 


Fall  Migration. — Since  the  Redstart  breeds  over  most  of  the 
eastern  United  States,  it  is  not  possible  to  determine  the  beginning  of 
its  fall  migration  in  that  portion  of  its  range  from  which  were  received 
the  fullest  records  of  spring  arrival.  Just  south  of  the  breeding  range, 
in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states,  the  dates  show  that  the  Red- 
start is  one  of  the  earliest  of  fall  migrants.  The  earliest  migrant  in 
Chester  County,  South  Carolina,  was  seen  July  10;  at  Key  West,  Fla., 
July  22,  1889,  and  near  there,  at  Sombrero  Key  lighthouse,  July  28 
and  29,  1886.  It  has  been  taken  in  Jamaica  by  August  10;  in  Costa 
Rica,  August  13;  Colombia,  South  America,  September  2,  and  on 
the  island  of  Antigua,  Lesser  Antilles,  September  6.  These  dates  are 
especially  interesting  because  they  prove  so  conclusively  that  the 
southernmost  breeding  birds  start  first  in  their  migration,  and  pass  at 
once  to  the  southern  portion  of  the  winter  range.  The  date  of  Sep- 
tember 6,  at  Antigua,  is  interesting  because  the  Redstart  is  one  of  the 
very  few  migrant  land-birds  from  the  United  States  that  range 
throughout  the  West  Indies,  even  to  the  Windward  Islands  and  Trini- 
dad; and  the  early  date  shows  that  the  flights  from  island  to  island 
are  interspersed  with  but  few  and  short  intervals  of  rest. 

Fall  migration  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  is  not  quite  so  early ;  still 
the  first  were  seen  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  July  21,  1899,  July  29,  1900, 
and  July  30,  1897.  The  earliest  migrants  reach  central  Texas  the 
last  of  August  and  have  been  noted  the  first  of  September  in  Mexico, 
nearly  at  the  southern  limit  of  the  bird's  winter  range  in  that  country. 

The  regular  tide  of  migration  in  southeastern  United  States  sets 
in  early  in  August,  and  the  striking  of  the  Redstart  against  the  Florida 
lighthouses  has  been  reported  on  nineteen  nights  in  that  month.  The 
largest  flocks  pass  through  the  Middle  Atlantic  states  about  the  middle 
of  September,  and  the  greatest  number  strike  the  Florida  lighthouses 
the  first  half  of  October. 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Atlantic  Coast— 
North  River,  P.  E.  I  
St   John   N    B 

3 

August  17 
September    5 

September    7,  1890 
September  25,  1891 

Montreal,  Can                          

5 

August  24 

August  29,  1891 

Lewiston,  Me  
Eastern  Massachusetts 

3 
4 

September  18 
September  20 

September  27,  1898 
September  24,  1896 

Portland,   Conn          

4 

September  19 

September  26,  1890 

Hartford    Conn 

October  16 

October  26,  1901 

Southeastern  New  York 

September  20 

September  28,  1890 

Englewood,  N.  J  

4 

September  29 

October    3,  1886 

REDSTART 
Fall  Migration. — (continued) 


291 


PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Atlantic  Coast—  (continued) 
German  town,  Pa          

e 

October    3 

October    8    1888 

Berwyn,    Pa          

i 

September  25 

October    3,  1894 

Renovo,    Pa  

5" 

September  25 

September  29,  1902 

Washington,  D.   C  

September  24,  1890 

French  Creek,  W.  Va  

. 

September  25 

September  30,  1890 

Raleigh    N   C 

0 

October    o 

October  13    1891 

Weaverville    N    C 

October  28    1894 

Florida  Lighthouses 

November  4    1888 

PLACE 

No.  of 
years' 
record 

Average  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Latest  date  of 
last  one  seen 

Mississippi  Valley  — 
Columbia  Falls,  Mont  

September    6,  1895 

Great  Falls    Mont 

September  14    1889 

Aweme    Man 

6 

September  15 

September  23    1904 

Lanesboro    Minn 

September  12 

September  22,  1887 

Grinnell,  la 

September  20 

September  28,  1885 

Keokuk,   la               ... 

October  20,  1900 

Ottawa,  Ont            

7 

September  17 

September  29,  1890 

Palmer,    Mich  
Mackinaw  Island,  Mich  

September  10,  1893 
September  14,  1889 

Livonia,  Mich  

3 

September  21 

September  28,  1891 

Detroit    Mich 

12 

September  28 

October    5    1905 

Wauseon    O 

7 

September  19 

September  30    1895 

Sedan    Ind 

A 

September  15 

October  u    1889 

Chicago,  111             .       .  .       

\ 

September  28 

October    5    1902 

Eubank,   Ky  

4 

September  19 

October    7,  1891 

Ariel,   Miss  

October  18,  1897 

Rodney    Miss 

October  15    1888 

New  Orleans  and  vicinity  

4 

October  18 

October  27,  1899 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — With  the  Redstart  we  reach  the  acme 
of  Warbler  activity.  If  a  bird  exists  which  is  more  constantly  in 
motion  and  in  a  greater  variety  of  ways,  I  have  yet  to  see  it.  But  it 
is  at  feeding  that  the  bird  excels ;  not  the  somewhat  sedate,  pendulum- 
like  wing-feeding  of  the  true  Flycatcher  who,  sitting  quietly  in  wait, 
swings  out  from  his  perch,  makes  his  capture  and  returns  to  his 
starting  point,  but  a  mad  series  of  darts  and  dives  and  whirls,  ol 
onward  rushes  and  as  sudden  stops,  which  yield  not  one  insect  but 
many  and,  at  the  same  time,  display  the  bird's  brilliant  plumage  in  a 
manner  to  set  at  defiance  all  laws  of  aggressive  coloration.  With  what 
dainty  grace  he  spreads  his  tail,  half  opens  his  wings,  and  pirouettes 


292  REDSTART 

from  limb  to  limb  like  a  village  belle  with  coquettishly  held  skirts  trip- 
ping the  mazes  of  a  country  dance ! 

The  Redstart  is  at  home  in  almost  any  kind  of  more  or  less  open 
deciduous  woodland,  but  prefers  lowland  woods  with  a  sapling  under- 
growth. The  increase  in  trees  in  towns  is  fortunately  tempting  it  to 
widen  its  range,  and  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Brewster  states  it  nests, 
in  places,  ''almost  if  not  quite  so  numerously  as  in  the  Fresh  Pond 
swamps,  or  in  the  wilder  parts  of  Arlington,  Belmont,  and  Waverly." 

At  times  the  Redstart  descends  to  the  ground  to  feed.  Gerald 
Thayer  writes:  "Like  butterflies,  of  which  they  so  much  remind  one, 
— like  many  of  the  shy,  high-flying  butterflies, — the  usually  tree-hunt- 
ing Redstarts  are  wont  at  times  to  descend  to  earth  to  do  strange  sca- 
venging \vork.  Horse-manure,  with  its  attendant  insects,  mightily 
attracts  them,  and  near  Monadnock  it  is  a  common  thing  to  see  them 
skipping  about  on  the  muck  of  travelled  high-roads.  I  have  known 
a  male  fo  spend  most  of  his  time  this  way,  in  one  spot,  for  several 
days  in  succession." 

Annie  Lyman  Sears  of  Waltham,  Mass.,  sends  an  interesting 
study  of  a  pair  of  Redstarts  which  on  May  12,  1895,  began  to  build 
a  nest  on  the  bracket  above  a  Venetian  iron  work  lantern  hanging 
before  the  front  door  of  her  home.  The  female  constructed  the  nest 
alone  and,  unaided,  performed  the  task  of  incubation.  Miss  Sears 
writes:  "It  took  (as  nearly  as  I  could  tell)  twelve  days  for  the  eggs 
to  hatch.  After  that  the  male  was  as  busy  as  the  female  in  supplying 
the  five  hungry  mouths  with  food.  He  never  seemed  at  home  on  the 
nest,  and  after  feeding  the  young  birds,  would  stand  on  a  branch  of 
the  lantern  watching  for  his  mate  to  return.  When  he  saw  her 
approaching  he  would  utter  a  little  cry,  fly  down  onto  the  piazza  or  steps 
and  sing.  The  female,  on  the  contrary,  after  feeding  the  little  ones, 
settled  down  on  the  nest  and  stayed  till  the  male  brought  more  food. 
They  brought  gnats,  flies,  green  caterpillars,  which  they  sometimes 
appeared  to  break  up  in  their  own  mouths  before  giving  to  the  young 
birds.  Both  birds  became  very  tame,  hopping  about  the  chairs  and  steps 
and  nearly  alighting  on  our  persons.  The  male  sang  constantly. 
The  young  left  the  nest  on  June  15,  and  as  late  as  July  17,  presumably 
the  same  birds  were  seen  in  charge  of  the  male  who  was  still  feeding 
them." 

Song. — The  song  of  the  Redstart  can  be  readily  recognized  by 
those  who  know  it  but  like  so  many  Warblers'  songs  of  what  may  be 
called  the  weechy  type,  loses  all  character  when  it  is  reduced  to  sylla- 
bles. 


REDSTART  293 

"Has  several  distinct  songs;  the  zee-zee-zee  with  the  sharp,  un- 
finished ending,  and  the  saw-filing  one,  like  the  Black  and  White 
Creeper's,  only  more  robust  in  quality,  are  the  two  I  hear  the  oftenest." 
(Farwell,  MS.}. 

"In  some  years  I  have  found  this  species  songless  soon  after  the 
beginning  of  July.  In  seasons  when  it  thus  becomes  silent,  singing  is 
resumed  in  the  first  part  of  August  and  continues  for  two  or  three 
weeks.  But  the  period  of  July  silence  is  inconstant  and  sometimes 
singing  is  little  interrupted  through  the  month.  When  this  is  the 
case  singing  seems  to  cease  finally  at  the  end  of  the  month,  or  early  in 
August,  and  is  followed  by  no  supplementary  song-period.  *  *  *  In 
the  summer  a  song  is  commonly  heard  from  the  Redstart  which  is 
weaker  and  otherwise  different  from  the  normal,  and  which  is  probably 
produced  by  immature  males."  (Bicknell.) 

"Of  all  the  Wood  Warblers  I  know,  the  Redstart  comes  nearest 
to  spoiling  the  rule  that  an  adult  Warbler's  song  can  never  be  wholly 
disguised  for  the  practiced  human  ear.  The  bird  is,  indeed,  an  almost 
lawlessly  versatile  songster,  and  few  and  far  between  must  be  the 
bird-students  who  could  not  be  mystified  by  any  of  the  occasional 
extreme  vagaries  of  its  singing.  The  fundamental  tone-quality  varies 
as  widely,  though  not  as  commonly,  as  the  form  and  accentuation. 
Time  after  time  have  I  been  puzzled  by  some  perfectly  new  and  sur- 
prising freak  of  Redstart  song,  and  that  after  years  of  acquaintance 
with  the  bird's  varied  singing.  Ranking  on  the  whole  among  the 
full-voiced  Warblers,  and  singing  commonly  in  a  smooth,  clear  tone, 
he  will  come  out  sometimes  with  a  bunch  of  weak,  buzzy  notes,  like 
an  exaggeration  of  all  that  is  peculiar  in  the  Parula's  song,  and  in 
almost  every  detail  of  form  and  delivery  widely  different  from  a  nor- 
mal Redstart  utterance.  Again,  he  will  shrill  in  hair-thin,  glassy  notes, 
like  a  Blackpoll,  or  loudly  wheeze  like  a  Black-throated  Blue;  and 
sometimes  he  will  combine  one  or  more  of  these  foreign  song-tones  in 
one  phrase  with  his  normal,  clear,  strong  notes.  As  for  the  variations 
and  strange  hybridisms  of  his  phrasing  and  accenting,  they  are  quite 
beyond  classification  or  description.  One  hears  a  noticeable  new  one 
every  few  days,  in  summer,  if  one  lives  among  New  Hampshire  Red- 
starts. It  is  hard  even  to  decide  whether  the  bird  should  be  said  to 
have  one  main  song,  or  two,  or  three,  or  four,  or  five.  But  I  believe 
that  three  are  comparatively  constant,  and  could  perhaps  be  traced  as 
the  bases  of  all  the  variations.  To  add  to  the  confusion  of  the  matter, 
the  young  males,  for  two  years  dull-colored,  sing  almost  as  freely  as 
their  black-and-orange  fathers ;  but, — especially  in  the  first  autumn, — 


294  REDSTART 

often  with  phrases  of  their  own,  in  addition  to  more  or  less  imperfect 
renderings  of  the  adults'  phrases.  But  never  in  any  variation  of  the 
Redstarts  singing  have  I  heard  an  unmistakable  imitation  of  other 
bird-notes, — as  sometimes  in  the  cases  of  the  Chestnut-side  and  the 
Northern  Yellow-throat.  He  seems  merely  to  be  a  singer  so  laxly 
versatile  that  he  occasionally  chances  into  the  song-styles  of  other 
Warblers.  His  two  or  three  call-notes  are  more  constant.  The  com- 
monest one  is  easily  recognizable,  though  it  has  much  likeness  to  the 
calls  of  several  other  Warblers."  (Thayer,  MS.) 

Miss  Paddock  sends  notations  of  three  songs  and  writes:  "The 
Redstart's  voice  is  shrill  and  penetrating  with  a  wiry  quality.  There 
are  two  songs,  the  second  less  explosive  and  something  like  the  Qiest- 
nut-sided  Warbler's  second  song." 


we-see,  we-see,  we-see 


Nesting  Site.  —  The  Redstart  usually  selects  an  upright  crotch  from 
two  to  thirty  feet  high  in  a  sapling,  the  average  height  being  from  eight 
to  ten  feet.  Maples,  beeches  and  elms  are  frequently  chosen  but  the  nest 
is  also  placed  in  other  deciduous  trees.  Burtch  (MS.)  writes  of  a  nest 
found  June  10,  1900,  at  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  which  was  saddled  on  the 
horizontal  branch  of  a  beech  twelve  feet  from  the  ground. 

Nest.  —  The  nest  is  usually  symmetrical  in  outline  and  compactly 
made.  It  suggests  in  general  appearance  the  nest  of  the  Yellow  War- 
bler but  contains  less  plant-down,  or  none  at  all.  In  other  respects, 
however,  the  Redstart's  nest  is  often  not  to  be  distinguished  from  that 
of  D.  cestiva.  Externally  it  is  composed  largely  of  bits  of  spiders'  webs 
and  silver-gray  plant  fibers  wrapped  about  firmly  woven  inner  bark 
shreds  and  grasses;  the  lining  consists  chiefly  of  fine  grasses,  brown 
root-like  fibers,  and  hairs.  In  some  instances  feathers  are  used  in  the 
lining.  (Short1.) 

Burtch  (MS.)  describes  a  nest  found  at  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  June 
I,  1903,  as  composed  of  weed  bark  and  dead  grass,  lined  with  fine 
grass  and  hair.  It  was  handsomely  decorated  with  the  white  egg 


PAINTED  REDSTART  295 

cases  of  some  insect,  and  with  a  fine,  green,  thread-like  moss.  The 
same  writer  once  found  a  Redstart  using  a  Red-eyed  Vireo's  nest. 

Eggs. — 3  to  5,  usually  4.  Ground  color  varies  from  white  to 
creamy,  grayish  or  greenish  white ;  the  markings  consist  of  fine  specks, 
spots  and  blotches  in  various  shades  of  cinnamon-brown,  lilac-gray 
and  reddish,  with  very  few  under  shell  markings  of  lavender.  The 
distribution  of  the  markings  is  subject  to  considerable  variation;  some 
types  are  beautifully  wreathed  around  the  large  end,  with  scattering 
spots  over  rest  of  egg,  others  are  quite  heavily  blotched  over  most  of 
the  great  end,  and  again  the  egg  is  evenly  sprinkled  all  over.  Size; 
average,  .63x48;  extremes,  .56x48,  .58x46,  .70x48,  .6o,x.5i.  (Figs. 
122-124.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Raleigh,  N.  C,  May  12  (C.  W.  C.)  ;  Waynes- 
burg,  Pa.,  May  19- June  6  (Jacobs)  ;  New  York  City,  May  ly-June  24 
(F.  M.  C.}',  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  20- June  27  (Bishop)  ;  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  full  sets,  first  laying,  June  2-8  (Brewster)  ;  Lancaster, 
N.  H.,  May  30 June  13  (Spanlding)  ;  Bangor,  Me.,  June  2-June  30 
(Knight)  ;  Listowel,  Ont,  June  6- June  18  (Kelts)  ;  Oberlin,  O.,  May 
lo-june  20  (Jones)  ;  River  Forest,  Cook  Co.,  Ills.,  June  I  (Gault)  ; 
Petersburg,  Mich.,  May  29  (C.  W.  C.). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  ERNEST  H.  SHORT,  A  Study  in  Orange  and  Black,  (Redstart  in  W. 
N.  Y.),  Oologist,  X,  1893,  185.  (2)  W.  L.  KELLS,  Nesting  of  Some  Canadian 
Warblers,  Ottawa  Naturalist,  XV,  1002,  227.  (3)  J.  C.  WOOD,  Some  Notes  on 
the  Life  History  of  the  American  Redstart,  Bull.  Mich.  Orn.  Club,  V,  1004,  33. 

PAINTED  REDSTART 

SETOPHAGA  PICTA  PICTA  Swains.    Plate  XXIII 

Distinguishing  Characters. — This  bird  not  only  differs  in  color  from  any 
known  Warbler  but  the  sexes  are  alike  in  plumage  and  the  young  assumes 
mature  dress  the  first  autumn ;  all  facts  which  tend  to  simplify  the  identifica- 
tion of  the  species  at  any  season.  Length  (skin),  4.75;  wing,  2.75;  tail,  2.50; 
bill,  .35- 

Adult  <$,  Spring. — Above  shining  black,  tail  black  the  three  outer  feathers 
terminally  white  diminishing  in  amount  from  without  inward;  wings  black, 
outer  primary  and  secondaries  edged  with  white,  middle  and  greater  coverts 
largely  white  forming  a  large  white  patch;  throat  and  sides  black,  breast  and 
belly  scarlet,  ventral  region  white,  under  tail-coverts  black  tipped  with  white. 

Adult  <$,  Fall. — Similar  to  adult  <f  in  Spring. 

Young  $,  Fall.— Similar  to  adult  d1  in  Fall. 

Adult  and  young  $. — Similar  to  <?. 

Nestling. — Sooty  black,  the  belly  more  or  less  mixed  with  whitish;  wings 
and  tail  as  in  adult. 


296  PAINTED  REDSTART 

General  Distribution. — Mountains  from  Honduras  to  southern 
Arizona  and  New  Mexico. 

Summer  Range. — Mountains  of  Mexico  north  to  Santa  Catalina 
Mountains,  Arizona  and  Grant  County,  New  Mexico. 

Winter  Range. — Mexico  to  Honduras. 

Spring  Migration. — Southern  New  Mexico,  March  26;  southern 
Arizona,  March  15. 

The  Bird  and  its  Haunts. — The  Painted  Redstart  was  added  to  our 
fauna  by  Major  (then  Lieutenant)  Bendire,  near  Tucson,  Arizona, 
April  4,  1872.  Henshaw,  who  found  it  in  the  same  territory,  in  1873 
and  1874,  states  that  "it  appears  not  to  inhabit  the  high  mountains  nor 
the  extreme  lowlands,  but  to  occupy  an  intermediate  position,  and  to 
find  the  rocky  hills  covered  with  sparse  growth  of  oak  most  congenial 
to  its  habits.  *  *  * 

"Their  motions  are  almost  an  exact  reflection  of  those  of  the  com- 
mon Redstart,  which  they  so  much  resemble  in  form.  With  half  shut 
wings  and  outspread  tail,  they  pass  rapidly  along  the  limbs  of  trees, 
now  and  then  making  a  sudden  dart  for  a  passing  fly,  which  secured 
they  again  alight  and  resume  their  search.  They  are  constantly  in 
motion,  and  rarely  remain  in  the  same  tree  many  moments.  It  not 
infrequently  may  be  seen  clinging  to  the  trunk  of  a  tree  while  it  seizes 
a  grub  or  minute  insect  which  its  sharp  eyes  have  detected  hidden  in 
the  bark." 

Brewster2  writes  that  Stephens  found  this  species  at  an  elevation 
of  fully  7,000  feet  in  the  Chiricahua  Mountains  where  it  occurred  most 
numerously  among  the  pines;  an  experience  differing  from  that  of 
Henshaw,  as  recorded  above. 

Howard3  found  this  Warbler  breeding  in  the  Santa  Catalinas  at 
between  5,000  and  8,000  feet  elevation.  "With  their  wings  partly 
open  and  tail  spread  they  may  be  seen  hopping  about  on  mossy  banks 
or  stumps  of  large  trees,  generally  in  the  vicinity  of  a  spring  or  water- 
fall ;  now  and  then  they  will  fly  up  to  catch  some  insect,  much  after 
the  manner  of  the  Flycatcher." 

Nesting  Site. — The  nest  of  this  species  appears  to  have  been  first 
discovered  by  Herbert  Brown  in  June  1880,  in  the  Santa  Rita  Moun- 
tains of  Arizona.  (Bryant1.)  The  following  year  it  was  found  in 
the  same  region  by  Stephens2,  and  later  the  bird  was  studied  by 
Howard8  and  Breninger*.  From  the  researches  of  these  naturalists  we 
learn  that,  wholly  unlike  its  eastern  relative  (Setophaga  ruticilla).  the 
Painted  Redstart  places  its  nest  on  the  ground,  preferably  on  a  bank 


PLATE  XXIV 


1.  PINE  WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

2.  PINE  WARBLER,  FEMALE. 


3.  RED-FACED   WARBLER,  ADULT  MALE. 

4.  RED-FACED  WARBLER.  FEMALE. 


PAINTED  REDSTART 


297 


or  hillside,  usually  beneath  a  projecting  rock  or  bunch  of  grass  and, 
Howard3  adds,  in  the  vicinity  of  a  spring  or  waterfall. 

Nest. — Brewster2  describes  the  nest  as  "large,  flat  and  shallow," 
and  as  composed  of  bark,  coarse  fibers  from  weed-stalks,  and  fine 
bleached  grasses,  the  latter,  with  a  few  hairs  forming  a  simple  lining; 
a  description  which  seems  to  fit  the  average  nest  of  this  species. 

Eggs. — Usually  4.  Ground  color  white,  finely  dotted,  in  form  of 
wreath  around  large  end,  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender  gray,  and  a 
very  few  scattering  dots  over  rest  of  egg.  Size;  a  typical  set  of  4 
measures  .65x.5i,  .65x.5i,  .66x.5i,  .64x.5i.  (Figs.  125,126.) 

Nesting  Dates.— Santa  Rita  Mts.,  May  18  (Stephens). 

BIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES 

(i)  W.  E.  BRYANT,  Nest  and  Eggs  of  the  Painted  Flycatcher  (in  Arizona), 
Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VI,  1881,  176.  (2)  WM.  BREWSTER,  On  a  Collection 
Birds  lately  made  by  Mr.  F.  Stephens  in  Arizona,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VII, 
1882,  140.  (3)  O.  W.  HOWARD,  Summer  Resident  Warblers  of  Arizona,  Bull. 
Cooper  Orn.  Club  (=Condor),  I,  1899,  65.  (4)  G.  F.  BRENINGER,  The  Painted 
Redstart  (in  Arizona),  Condor,  III,  1901,  147. 


HYPOTHETICAL  LIST 


The  following  list  contains  those  Warblers  whose  specific  validity, 
or  whose  occurrence  in  North  America  has  not  been  definitely  estab- 
lished. 

CINCINNATI  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  CINCINNATIENSIS    (LanEdon) 

The  single  specimen  known  is  generally  considered  to  be  a  hybrid 
between  Vermivora  pinus  and  Oporornis  formosus.  See  Langdon 
Journ.  Cine.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  III,  1880,  119,  pi.  6;  Bull.  Nutt  Orn. 
Qub  V,  1880,  208,  pi.  4;  Ridgway,  Ibid.,  237. 

BREWSTER'S  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  LEUCOBRONCHIALIS    (Brewst.) 

Apparently  a  hybrid  of  V .  pinus  and  V.  chrysoptwu.  See,  how- 
ever, page  73,  where  the  bird's  status  is  discussed  at  length. 

LAWRENCE'S  WARBLER 

VERMIVORA  UAWRENCEI    (Herrick) 

Doubtless  a  hybrid  between  V .  pinus  and  V .  chrysoptera.  See 
page  72  for  a  discussion  of  its  status. 

CARBONATED  WARBLER 

DENDROICA  CARBONATA    (Aud.) 

This  bird  is  known  to  us  only  from  Audubon's  plate  and  descrip- 
tion based  on  two  specimens  taken  by  him  at  Henderson,  Kentucky, 
in  May,  1811  (Orn.  Biog.,  I,  308  pi.  60). 

SMALL-HEADED  WARBLER 

WILSONIA  MICROCEPHALA    (Ridgw.) 

This  bird  is  known  to  us  only  from  the  descriptions  and  figures 
of  Wilson  and  Audubon.  It  was  described  by  Wilson  under  the  name 
Muscicapa  minuta.  (Am.  Orn.  VI,  1812,  62),  but  in  1838  was  referred 
by  Bonaparte  to  the  genus  Wilsonia.  In  1885  Ridgway  substituted 
the  name  microcephala  for  that  of  minuta,  the  latter  proving  to  be 
preoccupied. 


300 


HYPOTHETICAL  LIST 


Whatever  may  have  been  the  original  of  Wilson's  Muscicapa 
niinnta  there  can  be  no  question  that  no  such  bird  as  he  described  now 
nests,  as  he  supposed,  in  New  Jersey.  Of  Kentucky,  where  Audubon 
secured  his  specimen,  so  positive  a  statement  is  perhaps  not 
warranted,  the  recent  discovery  in  that  state  of  the  nest  of  Bach- 
man's  Warbler  indicating  that  our  knowledge  of  its  bird-life  is  still 
far  from  complete. 

RED-BELLIED  REDSTART 

MYIOBORUS  M1NIATUS  MINIATUS    (Sw.in..) 

A  species  of  the  Mexican  tableland  which  was  recorded  from 
"Texas"  by  Giraud  ('Sixteen  Species  Texas  Birds',  1841,  pi.  7,  fig.  i), 
but  the  seventy  years  which  have  passed  since  its  alleged  discovery  in 
what  are  now  the  United  States  make  it  reasonably  sure  that  Giraud 
did  not  get  his  specimen  north  of  the  present  Mexican  boundary,  and 
there  seems  to  be  no  further  excuse  for  extending  to  his  record  the 
'benefit  of  the  doubt.' 

RED  WARBLER 

ERGATICUS  RUBER    (Swains.) 

Recorded  from  Texas  by  Giraud  as  Parus  leucotis  ('Sixteen 
Species  of  Texas  Birds,'  1841,  pi.  4,  fig.  i),  but  there  appear  to  be  no 
definite  records  north  of  Durango  and  Sinaloa.  See  remarks  under 
the  preceding  species. 

BRASHER'S  WARBLER 

BASILEUTERUS  CULICIVORUS  BRASHERI     (Glrtud) 

A  species  of  northeastern  Mexico  recorded  from  "Texas"  by 
Giraud  ('Sixteen  Species  of  Texas  Birds,'  1841,  pi.  6,  fig.  2),  but  it 
appears  to  be  unknown  north  of  Victoria,  Tamaulipas.  See  remarks 
under  the  two  preceding  species. 

BELL'S  WARBLER 

BASILEUTERUS  BELLI  BELLI     (Gir.ud) 

A  species  of  southern  Mexico  recorded  from  "Texas"  by  Giraud 
('Sixteen  Species  of  Texas  Birds,'  1841,  pi.  4,  fig.  2),  but  it  appears 
to  be  unknown  north  of  the  State  of  Vera  Cruz.  See  remarks  under 
preceding  species. 


INDEX 


.ESTIVA,  DENDROICA  JESTIVA,  migration 
of,  18;  biography  of,  113;  figure  of, 
frontispiece;  eggs  of  figured,  facing 
144;  nest  of  figured,  facing  188. 

agilis,  Oporornis,  biography  of,  241 ;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  236. 

Alaskan  Yellow  Warbler,  biography  of, 
120. 

albilora,  Dendroica  dominica,  biography 
of,  184. 

americana,  Compsothlypis  americana, 
biography  of,  103. 

American  Redstart,  biography  of,  287; 
figure  of,  facing  288;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258;  nest  of  figured,  facing  272. 

arizela,  Geothlypis  trichas,  biography  of, 
260. 

auduboni,  Dendroica  auduboni,  biog- 
raphy of,  147;  figure  of,  facing  118; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144. 

Audubon's  Warbler,  biography  of,  147; 
figure  of,  facing  118;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

aurocapillus,  Seiurus,  biography  of,  219; 
figure  of,  facing  226;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176;  nest  of  figured,  facing  200. 

BACHMANI  VERMIVORA,  biography  of,  77; 

figure  of,   facing  64. 
Bachman's   Warbler,   biography   of,   77; 

figure  of,  facing  64. 
Basileuterus  belli  belli,  300. 
Basileuterus  culicivorus  brasheri,  300. 
Bay-breasted     Warbler,     biography     of, 

192;    figure   of,    facing    138;    eggs    of 

figured,  facing  144. 
beldingi,   Geothlypis,  biography  of,  261 ; 

figure  of,  facing  252. 
Belding's    Yellow-throat,    biography    of, 

261 ;  figure  of,  facing  252. 
belli,  Basileuterus  belli,  300. 
Bell's  Warbler,  300. 
brachidactyla,    Geothlypis    trichas,   biog- 

graphy  of,  251;  figure  of,  facing  252; 

eggs  of  figured,  facing  258. 
brasheri,  Basileuterus  culicivorus,  300. 
Brasher's  Warbler,  300. 
Brewster's   Warbler,   biography   of,   73; 

figure  of,  facing  72. 


Black    and    White    Creeping    Warbler, 

same   as    Black   and   White   Warbler, 

which  see. 
Black  and  White  Warbler,  biography  of, 

38;  song  of,  131;  figure  of,  facing  38; 

eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 
Black    and    Yellow    Warbler,    same    as 

Magnolia  Warbler,  which  see. 
Blackburnian     Warbler,    biography    of, 

175;    song  of,   200;    figure   of,   facing 

50;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 
Black-capped  Flycatching  Warbler,  same 

as  Wilson's  Warbler,  which  see. 
Black-fronted    Warbler,    biography     of, 

151- 
Blackpoll  Warbler,  mortality  among,  36; 

biography   of,    196;    figure    of,    facing 

38;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  144;  nest 

of  figured,  facing  200. 
Black-throated  Blue  Warbler,  biography 

of,  133;  figure  of,  facing  112;  eggs  of 

figured,  facing  144. 
Black-throated  Gray  Warbler,  biography 

of,  151;  figure  of,  facing  152;  eggs  of 

figured,  facing  176. 

Black-throated  Green  Warbler,  biog- 
raphy of,  157;  figure  of,  facing  162; 

eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 
Blue   Golden-winged   Warbler,   same  as 

Golden-winged  Warbler,  which  see. 
Blue   Yellow-backed    Warbler,   same   as 

Parula  Warbler  and  Northern  Parula 

Warbler,  which  see. 
Blue-winged  Warbler,  biography  of,  65 ; 

figure  of,  facing  72;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 
Blue-winged   Yellow   Warbler,   same   as 

Blue-winged  Warbler,  which  see. 

OERULESCENS,     DENDROICA     C^RULESCENS, 

biography  of,  133;  figure  of,  facing 
112;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  144. 

cairnsi,  Dendroica  caerulescens,  biog- 
raphy of,  140. 

Cairns'  Warbler,  biography  of,  140. 

Calaveras  Warbler,  biography  of,  97. 

Canada  Warbler,  biography  of,  280; 
figure  of,  facing  280;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 


302 


INDEX 


canadensis,  Wilsonia,  biography  of,  280; 
figure  of,  facing  280;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 
Canadian    Warbler,    same    as    Canada 

Warbler,  which  see. 

Cape  May  Warbler,  biography  of,  128; 
figure  of,  facing  214;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

carbonata,  Dendroica,  299. 
Carbonated  Warbler,  299. 

Cardellina  rubrifrons,  biography  of,  285 ; 
figure  of,  facing  296. 

castanea,  Dendroica,  biography  of,  192; 
figure  of,  facing  138;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

castaneiceps,  Dendroica  bryanti,  biog- 
raphy of,  121 ;  figure  of,  frontispiece ; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144. 

celata,  Vermivora  celata,  biography  of, 
86 ;  figure  of,  facing  86. 

cerulea,  Dendroica,  biography  of,  170; 
figure  of,  facing  112;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Cerulean  Warbler,  biography  of,  170; 
figure  of,  facing  112;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Chamaethlypis  poliocephala  poliocephala, 
biography  of,  263 ;  figure  of,  facing 
226. 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  biography  of, 
187;  figure  of,  facing  138;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  144;  nest  of  figured, 
facing  1 88. 

chryseola,  Wilsonia  pusilla,  biography 
of,  279. 

chrysoparia,  Dendroica,  biography  of, 
162;  figure  of,  facing  162;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  176. 

chrysoptera,  Vermivora,  biography  of, 
60 ;  figure  of,  facing  72 ;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  44. 

cincinnatiensis,  Vermivora,  299. 

Cincinnati  Warbler,  299. 

citrea,  Protonotaria,  biography  of,  54; 
figure  of,  facing  50;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44 ;  nest  of  figured,  facing  58. 

Compsothlypis  americana  americana,  bi- 
ography of,  103. 

Compsothlypis  americana  usneae,  biog- 
raphy of,  104;  song,  173;  figure  of, 
facing  104;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  44; 
nest  of  figured,  facing  58. 

Compsothlypis  pitiayumi  nigrilora,  biog- 
raphy of,  109;  figure  of,  facing  104. 

Connecticut  Warbler,  biography  of,  241 ; 
figure  of,  facing  236. 

coronata,  Dendroica,  biography  of,  141 ; 
figure  of,  facing  118;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Creeper,  Black-and-White,  same  as 
Black  and  White  Warbler,  which  see. 


DENDROICA  .ESTIVA  ESTIVA,  migration 
of,  18;  biography  of,  113;  figure  of, 
frontispiece;  eggs  of  figured,  facing 
144;  nest  of  figured,  facing  188. 
Dendroica  aestiva  rubiginosa,  biography 
of,  1 20. 

Dendroica  aestiva  sonorana,  biography 
of,  119. 

Dendroica  auduboni  auduboni,  biog- 
raphy of,  147;  figure  of,  facing  118; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144. 

Dendroica  auduboni  nigrifrons,  biog- 
raphy of,  151. 

Dendroica  fusca,  biography  of,  175; 
song  of,  200;  figure  of,  facing  50; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 

Dendroica  bryanti  castaneiceps,  biog- 
raphy of,  121 ;  figure  of,  frontispiece ; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144. 

Dendroica  caerulescens  caerulescens,  bi- 
ography of,  133;  figure  of,  facing  112; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144. 

Dendroica  caerulescens  cairnsi,  biog- 
raphy of,  140. 

Dendroica  carbonata,  299. 

Dendroica  castanea,  biography  of,  192; 
figure  of,  facing  138;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Dendroica  cerulea,  biography  of,  170; 
figure  of,  facing  112;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Dendroica  chrysoparia,  biography  of, 
162;  figure  of,  facing  162;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  176. 

Dendroica  coronata,  biography  of,  141 ; 
figure  of,  facing  118;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Dendroica  discolor,  biography  of,  209; 
figure  of,  frontispiece ;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Dendroica  dominica  albilora,  biography 
of,  184. 

Dendroica  dominica  dominica,  biog- 
raphy of,  180;  figure  of,  facing  152; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 

Dendroica  gracias  graciae,  biography  of, 
185 ;  figure  of,  facing  152. 

Dendroica  kirtlandi,  biography  of,  206; 
figure  of,  facing  126;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Dendroica  magnolia,  biography  of,  121 ; 
figure  of,  facing  126;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing,  144. 

Dendroica  nigrescens,  biography  of,  151 ; 
figure  of,  facing  152;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Dendroica  occidentalis,  biography  of, 
167;  figure  of,  facing  170. 

Dendroica  palmarum  hypochrysea,  biog- 


INDEX 


303 


raphy  of,  216;  eggs  of  figured,  facing 
176. 

Dendroica  palmarum  palmarum,  biog- 
raphy of,  213;  figure  of,  facing  214. 
Dendroica  pensylvanica,  biography  of, 
187;  figure  of,  facing  138;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  144;  nest  of  figured,  fac- 
ing 1 88. 

Dendroica  striata,  mortality  among,  36; 
biography  of,  196 ;  figure  of,  facing  38 ; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144;  nest  of 
figured,  facing  200. 

Dendroica  tigrina,  biography  of,  128; 
figure  of,  facing  214;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Dendroica  townsendi,  biography  of,  154; 
figure  of,  facing  170;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

Dendroica  vigorsi  vigorsi,  biography  of, 
201 ;  figure  of,  facing  296 ;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  176. 

Dendroica  virens,  biography  of,  157 ;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  162;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

discolor,  Dendroica,  biography  of,  209; 
figure  of,  frontispiece ;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

dominica,     Dendroica     dominica,     biog- 
raphy of,   180;  figure  of,  facing  152; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 
Dusky  Warbler,  biography  of,  90. 
ERGATICUS  RUBER,  300. 
FLORIDA      YELLOW-THROAT,      same      as 

Southern  Yellow-throat,  which  see. 
formosus  Oporprnis,  biography  of,  235 ; 
figure  of,  facing  236;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 
GEOTHLYPIS  BELDINGI,  biography  of,  261 ; 

figure  of,  facing  252. 
Geothlypis  trichas  arizela,  biography  of, 

260. 
Geothlypis  trichas  ignota,  biography  of, 

257.  * 

Geothlypis  trichas  trichas,  biography  of, 
251 ;  figure  of,  facing  252 ;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  258. 

Geothlypis     trichas     occidentalis,     biog- 
raphy of,  259. 
Geothlypis     trichas     sinuosa,    biography 

of,  261. 

Golden-cheeked  Warbler,  biography  of, 
162;  figure  of,  facing  162;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  176. 

Golden-crowned  Thrush,  same  as  Oven- 
bird,  which  see. 
Golden    Pileolated    Warbler,    biography 

of,  279. 
Golden   Swamp  Warbler,  same  as  Pro- 

thonotary  Warbler,  which  see. 
Golden  Warbler,  same  as  Yellow  War- 
bler, which  see. 


Golden-winged    Warbler,   biography   of, 
60;  figure  of,  facing  72;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 
Grace's     Warbler,     biography    of,    185; 

figure  of,  facing  152. 
gracise,  Dendroica  graciae,  biography  of, 

185;  figure  of,  facing  152. 
Grinnell's  Water-Thrush,  biography  of, 

234- 

gutturalis,  Vermivora  rubricapilla,  biog- 
raphy of,  97. 

HELINAIA  SWAINSONI,  biography  of, 
44;  figure  of,  facing  64;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 

Helmitheros   vermivorus,   biography   of, 
48;  figure  of,  facing  64;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 
Hermit    Warbler,    biography    of,     167; 

figure  of,  facing  170. 
Hooded    Warbler,    biography    of,    269; 
figure  of,  facing  264;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258;  nest  of  figured,  facing  272. 
hypochrysea,    Dendroica   palmarum,    bi- 
ography of,  216;  eggs  of  figured,  fac- 
ing 176. 
ICTERIA    VIRENS    LONGiCAUDA,    biography 

of,  268. 

Icteria  virens  virens,  biography  of,  264; 
figure  of,  facing  264;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

KENTUCKY  WARBLER,  biography  of,  235; 
figure  of,  facing  236;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

kirtlandi,  Dendroica,  biography  of,  206; 
figure  of,  facing  126;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Kirtland's  Warbler,  biography  of,  206; 
figure  of,  facing  126;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

LARGE-BILLED   WATER-THRUSH,   same  as 

Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  which  see. 

lawrencei,  Vermivora,  biography  of,  72; 

figure  of,   facing  72. 
Lawrence's   Warbler,  biography  of,  72; 

figure  of,  facing  72. 
leucobronchialis,    Vermivora,    biography 

of,  73 ;  figure  of,  facing  72. 
longicauda,  Icteria  virens,  biography  of, 

268. 

Long-tailed  Chat,  biography  of,  268. 
Louisiana   Water-Thrush,  biography  of, 
226;    figure   of,    facing   226;    eggs    of 
figured,  facing  176. 

luciae,  Vermivora,  biography  of,  100; 
figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44. 

Lucy's  Warbler,  biography  of,  100;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44. 


304 


INDEX 


lutescens,  Vermivora  celata,  biography 
of,  90;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 

Lutescent    Warbler,    biography    of,    yo; 

eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 
MACCILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER,  biography  of, 
249;    figure    of,    facing    244;    eggs    of 
figured,  facing  258. 

magnolia,  Dendroica,  biography  of,  121 ; 
figure  of,  facing  126;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Magnolia  Warbler,  biography  of,  121 ; 
figure  of,  facing  126;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144, 

Mangrove  Warbler,  biography  of,  121 ; 
figure  of,  frontispiece;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  144. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat,  same  as 
Northern  Yellow-throat,  which  see. 

microcephala,  Wilsonia,  299. 

miniatus,  Myioborus  miniatus,  300. 

mitrata,  Wilsonia,  biography  of,  269; 
figure  of,  facing  264 ;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258;  nest  of  figured,  facing 
272. 

Mniotilta  varia,  biography  of,  38;  song 
of,  131;  figure  of,  facing  38;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  44. 

motacilla,  Seiurus,  biography  of,  226; 
figure  of,  facing  226;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Mourning  Warbler,  biography  of,  244; 
figure  of,  facing  244;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

Myioborus  miniatus  miniatus,  300. 

Myrtle  Bird,  same  as  Myrtle  Warbler, 
which  see. 

Myrtle  Warbler,  biography  of,  141 ;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  118;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

NASHVILLE  WARBLER,  biography  of,  92; 
figure  of,  facing  86;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44. 

nigrescens,  Dendroica,  biography  of, 
151;  figure  of,  facing  152;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  176. 

nigrifrons,  Dendroica  auduboni,  biog- 
raphy of,  151. 

nigrilora,  Compsothlypis  pitiayumi,  bi- 
ography of,  109;  figure  of,  facing  104. 

Northern  Parula  Warbler,  same  as 
Parula  Warbler,  which  see. 

Northern  Water-Thrush,  biography  of, 
230;  figure  of,  facing  226;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  176. 

Northern  Yellow-throat,  biography  of, 
251 ;  figure  of,  facing  252;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  258. 

notabilis,  Seiurus  noveboracensis,  biog- 
raphy of,  234- 


noveboracensis,  Seiurus  noveboracensis, 
biography  of,  230;  figure  of,  facing 
226;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 

OCCIDENTALS,  DENDROICA,  biography  of, 
167;  figure  of,  facing  170. 

occidentalis,  Geothlypis  trichas,  biog- 
raphy of,  259. 

olivaceus,  Peucedramus,  biography  of, 
no;  figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  144. 

Olive  Warbler,  biography  of,  no;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  144. 

Oporornis  agilis,  biography  of,  241  ;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  236. 

Oporornis  f  ormosus,  biography  of,  235 ; 
figure  of,  facing  236;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

Oporornis  Philadelphia,  biography  of, 
244;  figure  of,  facing  244;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  258. 

Oporornis  tolmiei,  biography  of,  249; 
figure  of,  facing  244;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

Orange-crowned  Warbler,  biography  of, 
86 ;  figure  of,  facing  86. 

orestera,  Vermivora  celata,  biography 
of,  89. 

Oven-bird,  biography  of,  219;  figure  of, 
facing  226;  eggs  of  figured,  facing 
176;  nest  of  figured,  facing  200. 

PACIFIC  YELLOW-THROAT,  biography  of, 
260. 

Painted  Redstart,  biography  of,  295; 
figure  of,  facing  288;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

palmarum.  Dendroica  palmarum,  biog- 
raphy of,  213;  figure  of,  facing  214. 

Palm  Warbler,  biography  of,  213;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  214. 

Parula  Warbler,  biography  of,  104; 
song  of,  173;  figure  of,  facing  104; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  44;  nest  of 
figured,  facing  58. 

pensylvanica,  Dendroica,  biography  of, 
187;  figure  of,  facing  138;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  144;  nest  of  figured, 
facing  188. 

peregrina,  Vermivora,  biography  of.  83 ; 
figure  of,  facing  86;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44. 

Peucedramus  olivaceus,  biography  of, 
no;  figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  144. 

Philadelphia,  Oporornis,  biography  of, 
244;  figure  of,  facing  244;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  258. 

picta,  Setophaga  picta,  biography  of. 
295;  figure  of,  facing  288;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  258. 


INDEX 


305 


pileolata,  Wilsonia  pusilla,  biography  of, 
278 ;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  258. 

Pileolated  Warbler,  biography  of,  278; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  258. 

Pine- Creeping  Warbler,  same  as  Pine 
Warbler,  which  see. 

Pine  Warbler,  biography  of,  201 ;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  296;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

pinus,  Vermivora,  biography  of,  65; 
figure  of,  facing  72;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 

poliocephala,  Chamaethlypis  polioceph- 
ala,  biography  of,  263;  figure  of,  fac- 
ing 226. 

Prairie  Warbler,  biography  of,  209;  fig- 
ure of,  frontispiece;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Prothonotary  Warbler,  biography  of, 
54;  figure  of,  facing  50;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44;  nest  of  figured,  fac- 
ing 58. 

Protonotaria  citrea,  biography  of,  54; 
figure  of,  facing  50;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44;  nest  of  figured,  facing  58. 

pusilla,  Wilsonia  pusilla,  biography  of, 
274;  figure  of,  faring  280. 

RED-BELLIED  REDSTART,  300. 

Red-faced  Warbler,  biography  of,  285; 
figure  of,  facing  296. 

Red-poll  Warbler,  same  as  Palm  War- 
bler, which  see. 

Red  Warbler,  300. 

Rio  Grande  Yellow-  ihroat,  biography  of, 
263;  figure  of,  faring  226. 

Rocky  Mountain  Orange-crown,  biog- 
raphy of,  89. 

ruber,  Ergaticus,  300. 

rubiginosa,  Dendroica  sestiva,  biography 
of,  120. 

rubricaoilla,  Vermivora  rubricapilla, 
biography  of,  92;  figure  of,  facing  86; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 

rubrifrons,  Cardellina,  biography  of, 
285 ;  figure  of,  facing  296. 

ruticilla,  Setophaga,  biography  of,  287; 
figure  of,  facing  288;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258 ;  nest  of  figured,  facing  272. 

SALT  MARSH  YELLOW-THROAT,  biography 
of,  261. 

Seiurus  aurocapillus,  biography  of,  219; 
figure  of,  facing  226;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176;  nest  of  figured,  facing 
200. 

Seiurus  motacilla,  biography  of,  226; 
figure  of,  facing  226;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  176. 

Seiurus  noveboracensis  notabilis,  biog- 
raphy of,  234. 

Seiurus  noveboracensis  noveboracensis, 
biography  of,  230;  figure  of,  facing 


226;   eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 
Sennett's    Warbler,    biography   of,    109; 

figure  of,  facing  104. 
Setophaga  picta     picta,     biography     of, 

295;    figure   of,    facing   288;    eggs   of 

figured,  facing  258. 
Setophaga    ruticilla,   biography  of,   287; 

figure  of,  facing  288;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing    258;    nest    of    figured,    facing 

272. 
sinuosa,  Geothlypis     trichas,     biography 

of,  261. 
Small-billed     Water-Thrush,     same     as 

Northern   Water-Thrush,  which  see. 
Small-headed  Warbler,  299. 
sonorana,    Dendroica   aestiva,    biography 

of,   119. 
Sonora  Yellow   Warbler,   biography   of, 

119. 
sordida,  Vermivora  celata,  biography  of, 

90. 
Southern  Parula  Warbler,  biography  of, 

103. 
Southern    Yellow-throat,    biography    of, 

257. 
striata,  Dendroica,  mortality  among,  36; 

biography   of,    196;    figure   of,   facing 

38;  eggs  of  figured,  144;  nest  of  fig- 
ured, facing  200. 
Summer   Yellow-bird,    same   as    Yellow 

Warbler,  which  see. 
swainsoni,   Helinaia,   biography   of,   44; 

figure  of,  facing  64;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 
Swainson's   Warbler,   biography  of,  44; 

figure  of,  facing  64;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 

Sycamore   Warbler,  biography  of,    184. 
TENNESSEE  WARBLER,  biography  of,  83; 

figure  of,  facing  86;   eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 
tigrina,    Dendroica,    biography    of,    128; 

figure  of,  facing  214;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing   144. 
tulmiei,    Oporornis,    biography   of,    249; 

figure  of,  facing  244;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  258. 
Tolmie's    Warbler,    same    as    Macgilli- 

vray's  Warbler,  which  see. 
townsendi,     Dendroica,     biography     of, 

154;    figure   of,    facing    170;    eggs    of 

figured,  facing  258. 
Townsend's      Warbler,     biography      of, 

154;    figure   of,    facing    170;    eggs    of 

figured,  facing  258. 
trichas,     Geothlypis    trichas,     biography 

of,  257. 

USNE.E,         COMPSOTHLYPIS         AMERICANA, 

biography  of,  104;  song  of,  173;  fig- 
ure of,  facing  104;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44;  nest  of  figured,  facing  58. 


306 


INDEX 


VARIA,    MNIOTILTA,    biography    of,    38; 

song   of,    131;    figure    of,    facing   38; 

eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 
Vermivora  bachmani,  biography  of,  77 ; 

figure  of,  facing  64. 
Vermivora  celata  celata,  biography  of, 

86;  figure  of,  facing  86. 
Vermivora  celata  lutenscens,  biography 

of,  90;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 
Vermivora  celata  orestera,  biography  of, 

89. 
Vermivora  celata  sordida,  biography  of, 

90. 
Yermivora    chrysoptera,    biography    of, 

60;  figure  of,  facing  72;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 
Vermivora  cincinnatiensis,  299. 
Vermivora  lawrencei,  biography  of,  72; 

figure  of,  facing  72. 
Vermivora    leucobronchialis,    biography 

of,  73 ;  figure  of,  facing  72. 
Vermivora    luciae,    biography    of,    100; 

figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 
Vermivora  peregrina,  biography  of,  83 ; 

figure  of,  facing  86;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 
Vermivora    pinus,    biography    of,    65 ; 

figure  of,  facing  72;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 

Vermivora  rubricapilla  gutturalis,  biog- 
raphy of,  97. 
Vermivora       rubricapilla       rubricapilla, 

biography  of,  92 ;  figure  of,  facing  86 ; 

eggs  of  figured,  facing  44. 
Vermivora    virginae,    biography    of,    98; 

figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  44. 
vermivorus,   Helmitheros,  biography  of, 

48;  figure  of,  facing  64;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 
vigorsi,  Dendroica  vigprsi,  biography  of, 

201 ;    figure   of,   facing   296 ;    eggs   of 

figured,  facing  176. 
virens,    Dendroica,    biography   of,    157 ; 

figure  of,  facing  162;  eggs  of  figured, 

facing  176. 
virens,     Icteria    virens,     biography    of, 

264;  figure  of,  facing  264;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  258. 


virginae,  Vermivora,  biography  of,  98; 
figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44. 

Virginia's  Warbler,  biography  of,  98; 
figure  of,  facing  98;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  44. 

WARBLERS,  distribution  of,  11;  food  of, 
23;  general  characters  of,  7;  generic 
synopsis  of,  38;  migration  of,  14; 
mortality  among,  34;  nesting  habits 
of,  22;  plumage  of,  7;  songs  of,  20. 

Western  Yellow-throat,  biography  of, 
259. 

Wilsonia  canadensis,  biography  of,  280; 
figure  of,  facing  280;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258. 

Wilsonia  microcephala,  299. 

Wilsonia  citrina,  biography  of,  269; 
figure  of,  facing  264;  eggs  of  figured, 
facing  258;  nest  of  figured,  facing  272. 

Wilsonia  pusilla  chryseola,  biography  of, 
279. 

Wilsonia  pusilla  pileolata,  biography  of, 
278;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  258. 

Wilsonia  pusilla  pusilla,  biography  of, 
274;  figure  of,  facing  280. 

Wilson's  Warbler,  biography  of,  274; 
figure  of,  facing  280. 

Worm-eating  Warbler,  biography  of, 
48;  figure  of,  facing  64;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  44. 

YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT,  biography  of, 
264;  figure  of,  facing  264;  eggs  of 
figured,  facing  258. 

Yellow  Palm  Warbler,  biography  of, 
216;  eggs  of  figured,  facing  176. 

Yellow  Red-poll  Warbler,  same  as  Yel- 
low Palm  Warbler,  which  see. 

Yellow-rumped  Warbler,  same  as  Myr- 
tle Warbler,  which  see. 

Yellow-throated  Warbler,  biography  of, 
180;  figure  of,  facing  152;  eggs  of  fig- 
ured, facing  176. 

Yellow  Warbler,  migration  of,  18;  biog- 
raphy of,  113;  figure  of,  frontispiece; 
eggs  of  figured,  facing  144;  nest  of 
figured,  facing  188. 


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UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

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